North Korea fires ballistic missiles towards sea off its east coast

North Korea launched ballistic missiles on Sunday, the day the leader of rival South Korea starts a state visit to China, Pyongyang's chief ally, and just hours after the United States attacked Venezuela.



The firings of at least two missiles, the country's first in two months, further heighten global tensions after US President Donald Trump launched the attack that captured President Nicolas Maduro.



South Korea said peace on the Korean peninsula would be on the agenda during President Lee Jae Myung's visit to Beijing, which will include a summit with his counterpart, Xi Jinping.



The launches from the capital Pyongyang into the sea between the Koreas and Japan represent "a message to China to deter closer ties with South Korea and to counter China's stance on denuclearisation". .



Meanwhile, Seoul and Tokyo criticised the missile launches.



South Korea's presidential office said it had held an emergency security meeting and urged North Korea to cease "provocative acts that violate United Nations Security Council resolutions".