Japan has issued an emergency alert after North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea today, just hours before South Korea’s president leaves for China for talks expected to cover North Korea’s nuclear program. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it detected several ballistic missile launches from North Korea’s capital region.

It said the missiles flew about 560 miles and that South Korea and US authorities were analysing details of the launches. The launches were the latest weapons demonstration by North Korea in recent weeks. According to reports, North Korea is aiming to show off its achievements in the defence sector ahead of its upcoming ruling party congress, the first of its kind in five years.