Japan's ministry of defense said the projectiles did not pose an immediate security threat.

At least 13 gunmen were killed in attacks, a ministry of defense official said.

The ministry of defense had sent a senior officer to investigate the rape allegations, he said.

A spokesman for South Korea's ministry of defense said it would respond to the family after reviewing their request for information.

Reuters has seen a list compiled by the ministry of defense of 18 men alleged to have been detained in Nerkh.