Japan's Defense Ministry has announced that North Korea launched at least two ballistic missiles on Sunday morning.

North Korea on Sunday launched what it claimed to be hypersonic missiles into the Sea of Japan in a firing drill. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who stated that nuclear deterrence is necessary due to the “recent geopolitical crisis and complicated international events,

North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea Sunday, its neighbors said, just hours before South Korea's president left for China for talks expected to cover North Korea's nuclear program.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un led a state funeral for the longtime ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong Nam, who died this week at age 97.

The North launched its missiles hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung began a state visit to China.