North Korea launches missiles as US sub reaches South.

North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles as U.S. ‍Submarine Arrives in ‌South‌ Korea

North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast late on Monday, South Korea’s ⁣military said,‌ hours after a ⁤U.S. nuclear-powered submarine arrived in a ‍naval base ​in the South.

Japan Reports Possible Ballistic Missile Launch

Japan’s defense ministry also reported the launch of what it said could​ be a ballistic missile by North Korea. Japanese media said there may have been multiple missiles launched, citing a Japanese government source.

Tensions Rise on the Korean Peninsula

The reports come amid heightened tensions on the ⁤Korean peninsula​ as South‌ Korea and the ‍United​ States take‍ steps to boost military⁤ readiness against North Korea’s weapons program with the deployment ⁣of U.S. strategic military assets.

North Korea has reacted angrily, saying such deployment could meet the criteria for its use ⁤of nuclear weapons.

U.S. Submarine Enters South ⁣Korea

Earlier on Monday,‍ a nuclear-powered U.S. submarine entered a naval base‍ in South Korea’s southern island of ‌Jeju, to load military supplies while on an unspecified operational mission, the South Korean Navy said.

Last week, North Korea conducted ballistic ⁢missile tests, that​ time after a‌ nuclear-armed U.S. submarine arrived‍ at a South Korean‍ port for the first time since the ‌1980s.

(Reporting ⁢by Jack Kim in Seoul and ⁤Chang-Ran Kim in Tokyo; Editing by Alison⁢ Williams and Andrew⁤ Heavens)