North Korea fired more than ten ballistic missiles into the sea on Saturday, responding sharply as U.S. and South Korean forces continued their joint military drills, according to Reuters. The launches, detected around 1:20 p.m. near Pyongyang, streaked across the sky before falling into waters off the country’s east coast, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Japan’s coast guard confirmed spotting what appeared to be at least one missile falling into the sea, though officials said it landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. No damage or injuries were reported, but the incident stirred regional unease.
For decades, North Korea has tested a range of ballistic and cruise missiles in pursuit of a reliable nuclear delivery system. Despite years of sanctions from the United Nations, first imposed in 2006, Pyongyang remains undeterred, continuing to advance its weapons program even as economic hardship deepens.
This latest barrage coincided with large-scale military exercises between U.S. and South Korean troops. Officials describe the drills as defensive, designed to ensure readiness against northern aggression. On Saturday, hundreds of soldiers took part in river-crossing operations using tanks and armored vehicles under the watch of their combined forces commander. The United States currently stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea.
North Korea has long condemned these annual exercises, calling them “rehearsals for invasion.” The timing of the missile launches echoed that frustration, even as diplomatic channels briefly flickered with the possibility of renewed talks.
Just two days earlier, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. Their discussion centered on restarting dialogue with Pyongyang — a goal Trump remains keen to pursue, hoping once more to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un face to face.
