North Korea has fired multiple cruise missiles towards Japan, according to military officials in Seoul, with the exact number and type of missiles fired still unknown

A serious accident occurred,” announced the Korean Central News Agency, as North Korea’s newest naval destroyer flipped over while it was being launched. This accident, which was even witnessed by Kim Jong Un,

Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has met with relatives of Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea. He pledged to make his utmost efforts to resolve the issue as soon as possible while gaining cooperation from the international community.

North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles off its east coast on Thursday, South Korean media reported, citing the military.

The remarks came after The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House is considering pulling out roughly 4,500 troops and relocating them.

Pyongyang has carried out frequent missile tests in violation of United Nations Security Council sanctions and continues to build out its nuclear weapons program. The Kim Jong Un regime insists both are necessary for self-defense, citing "provocations" by the U.S. and its allies.

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Japan has stepped up its air defences amid rising tensions in Asia after acquiring three advanced F-35 Lightning II aircraft from the United States. The fifth-generation fighter jets will be based at the Komatsu Air Base in Ishikawa, located on the country's west coast just off the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.