1.The Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday that North Korea fired two ballistic missiles in a northeastern direction with one of the launches possibly failing and the missile falling inland within the country.

2.The South Korean government announced plans Monday to launch a new ministry of population strategy to address low birth rates and a rapidly aging population, which have emerged as some of the biggest challenges facing the country.

3.According to data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Monday, South Korea's exports extended on-year gains for the ninth straight month in June on the back of semiconductors, which rose 50.9 percent over the period to 13.4 billion U.S. dollars.