North Korea fired ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and Japan's Defense Ministry. Both militaries tracked the launches and passed the information to the public quickly. The Japanese Defense Ministry and the South Korean staff reported no material damage from the projectiles. Details such as the number of missiles, their type, or the distances they flew were not included in the initial reports. Launches toward the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan are a common way for Pyongyang to test weapons without overflying anyone's territory. Every firing draws close monitoring in Seoul and Tokyo, which share assessments after such events. The absence of reported damage suggests the missiles came down in open water, away from ships or populated coasts. The launch follows a familiar pattern of weapons tests that keep tensions on the peninsula from cooling.