SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Tuesday, according to its neighbors, as the North heightens animosities with rival South Korea ahead of a major political meeting.
South Korea's military said it detected liftoffs of several ballistic missiles from an area northeast of the North Korean capital Pyongyang before the missiles each flew about 350 kilometers (217 miles).
Japan’s Defense Ministry said two ballistic missiles launched from North Korea and landed off the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The ministry condemned the launches as a threat to the peace of Japan, the region and the international community.
South Korea's military said it maintains a firm readiness to repel any provocations by North Korea.
The launches were the first time North Korea fired weapons since testing what it called hypersonic missiles in early January. In December, the country test fired what it called long-range, strategic cruise missiles and new anti-air missiles and released photos showing the apparent construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine.
North Korea has engaged in a run of weapons launches to enlarge its nuclear and missile arsenals since talks with the U.S. and South Korea stalled in 2019. Experts say the North's leader Kim Jong Un believes a bigger weapons arsenal would give him greater leverage to win concessions from the U.S.
North Korea's recent displays were likely meant to demonstrate or review its weapons development achievements ahead of the upcoming ruling Workers’ Party congress, analysts said.
The congress, expected to start in February, would be the first of its kind in five years and is one of North Korea's biggest propaganda spectacles used to set up new political and economic priorities.
North Korea recently threatened retaliation over what it called South Korean surveillance drone flights across the border, one earlier in January and another in September. The South Korean government denied operating any drones during the times specified by North Korea and began probing if civilians sent them.
The accusations likely were driven by the North’s efforts to dial up anti-South Korea sentiments ahead of the congress, when Kim's previous declaration of a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula could be added to the party constitution, analysts said.
Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.
A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the completion of a first-stage modernization project at the Ryongsong Machine Complex in North Korea Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka beat 18-year-old Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open on Tuesday before searing heat on Day 10 forced matches to be played under cover.
Elina Svitolina stunned third-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-2 in a 59-minute night match to move into the semifinals in Australia for the first time.
Weeks into a tour return from a mental health break, the 12th-seeded Svitolina dominated the two-time major winner from the outset. Gauff struggled with her serve and recorded five double-faults in the first set, when she was broken four times.
She finally held in the fourth game of the second set, but by then it was too late. After leaving the court, Gauff smashed her racket into the ground seven times in the player area.
The 21-year-old American said she tried to find a place where there was no cameras to let out her frustrations, and went to the quietest area she could find.
No such frustration for Svitolina, the 31-year-old Ukrainian who lost quarterfinals here in 2018, 2019 and last year. She's now on a 10-match winning streak after starting the season with a title in Auckland, New Zealand.
“Very pleased with the tournament so far and, of course, always been my dream to come back here after maternity leave in the Top 10,” said Svitolina, who is playing her 12th major tournament since taking a maternity break in 2022. She and Gael Monfils, the popular French player who is retiring this year, are parents to Skai.
In an afternoon match, Alexander Zverev got the benefit of playing under a roof at Rod Laver Arena and advanced to the final four with a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 7-6 (3) win over 20-year-old Learner Tien.
The No. 3-ranked Zverev, last year's runner-up in Australia, reached his 10th Grand Slam semifinal on the back of 24 aces and just a single double-fault — which he served when he had six match points in the deciding tiebreaker.
Top-ranked Sabalenka, also a runner-up in Melbourne last year, is aiming for her third Australian Open title in four years. She won back-to-back titles here in 2023 and 2024 and lost the final a year ago to Madison Keys.
The first of the four quarterfinals scheduled on Day 10 was played outdoors, despite predictions of the temperature peaking at 45 degrees Celsius (113 F).
“I guess, yeah, as a woman, we are stronger than the guys,” Sabalenka said at her news conference, laughing. "They had to close the roof for the guys so they don’t suffer!”
Sabalenka went up 3-0 in the first set and established her dominance early against the 29th-seeded Jovic.
Jovic had three breakpoint chances in the ninth game, which lasted 10 minutes, but wasn't able to convert against the world's No. 1-ranked woman. In the last game, Sabalenka served an ace on break point and clinched it with another ace on match point. She saved all five break points she faced.
It gave her back-to-back wins over up-and-coming teenagers following her fourth-round victory over 19-year-old Canadian Vicky Mboko.
“These teenagers have tested me in the last couple of rounds -- incredible player,” Sabalenka said of Jovic in an on-court interview. “It was a tough match. Don’t look at the score. She played incredible tennis and pushed me to a one-step better level. It was a battle.”
Jovic was born in California and is the daughter of parents who emigrated to the United States. Her father is Serbian and Jovic, naturally, has sought tips from none other than Novak Djokovic.
Zverev said Tien's level had increased dramatically since last year, when the young American reached the fourth round.
He credited the recent work Tien has done with Michael Chang, the 1989 French Open champion, as coach. Chang won that major at the age of 17, which remains the youngest for a male to have lifted a Grand Slam singles title.
“Yeah, he’s a very good player. Very different than last year, for sure,” Zverev said of Tien, the only player outside the Top 10 to reach the quarterfinals. "It was incredible to see how he played from the baseline. I thought he was playing unbelievable.
“For me to win, I think, the serve was very important for me, because on the baseline, again, he was playing amazing.”
The temperature topped 42 Celsius (108 F) at 5 p.m. local time, but started to drop ahead of the night session. Play was suspended on outside courts all afternoon.
Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz faced Alex de Minaur in the last match of the day. Alcaraz has lifted six Grand Slam titles but has never won the Australian Open and has lost in the quarterfinals here the last two years.
Coco Gauff of the U.S. walks from the court following her quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Elina Svitolina of Ukraine waves after defeating Coco Gauff of the U.S. in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Learner Tien of the U.S. waves as he leaves the court following his quarterfinal loss to Alexander Zverev of Germany at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Alexander Zverev, right, of Germany is congratulated by Learner Tien, left, of the U.S. following their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus signs autographs after defeating to Iva Jovic of the U.S. in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Iva Jovic of the U.S dries herself during her quarterfinal match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Iva Jovic of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus blows cold air onto her face during her quarterfinal match against Iva Jovic of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a forehand return to Iva Jovic of the U.S. during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
