▲ North Korea test-fires the Hwasong-11 Ra surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile at an unspecified location on April 19, 2026, to verify the characteristics and power of a cluster bomb warhead and fragmentation mine warhead applied to the tactical ballistic missile, in this file photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) the next day. Leader Kim Jong-un observed the test and expressed satisfaction with the performance of the missile's warhead capability, the KCNA said a day after South Korea's military detected multiple short-range ballistic missiles launched toward the East Sea at around 6:10 a.m. from North Korea's Sinpho area. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) N Korea-missile launch

(LEAD) N. Korea fires close-range ballistic missiles toward Yellow Sea: JCS

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS details throughout)

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired multiple close-range ballistic missiles (CRBMs) toward the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, South Korea's military said, amid speculation that Chinese President Xi Jinping may visit North Korea soon.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missiles launched from the Jongju area of North Phyongan Province at around 1 p.m.

CRBMs refer to ballistic missiles that have a relatively short range of less than 300 kilometers.

"We have stepped up surveillance and monitoring in preparation for possible additional launches and are closely sharing related information with the United States and Japan while maintaining a full readiness posture," the JCS said.

The North's missile launch came amid speculation that Xi will likely visit North Korea late this month or early next month. Xi held summit talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing earlier this month.

The North last fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on April 19. Its state media later said it conducted a surface-to-surface ballistic missile launch that involved the testing of cluster bombs.

It test-fired strategic cruise and anti-warship missiles from the Choe Hyon destroyer above the Yellow Sea on April 12, which was overseen by leader Kim Jong-un.

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