North Korea launched approximately 10 ballistic missiles from the Sunan area near Pyongyang into the Sea of Japan on Saturday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed. The missile tests coincide with annual US-South Korea military exercises, which Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned as provocative “dress rehearsals” for invasion.
Japan’s defence ministry reported that at least one missile likely fell outside its exclusive economic zone. South Korea and the United States maintain that the drills are purely defensive, aimed at testing readiness against potential threats from the North. Hundreds of troops participated in river-crossing and armored vehicle exercises, overseen by combined US-Korean commanders. The US currently has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea, along with squadrons of fighter jets.
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The missile launches came shortly after South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met US President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss reviving dialogue with North Korea. Trump has expressed willingness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, potentially during his April visit to Beijing. Despite these overtures, Pyongyang recently described diplomatic efforts as a “clumsy, deceptive farce” and warned of “terrible consequences” if exercises continue.
North Korea has a long history of missile tests, pursuing nuclear-capable weapons despite UN Security Council sanctions imposed since 2006. Pyongyang’s military advancements and rhetoric heighten regional instability, with tensions further fueled by US-Israel military actions in the Middle East, which North Korea condemned as “illegal aggression.”
South Korea’s “Freedom Shield” drills, running until March 19, involve around 18,000 troops and are closely monitored by international observers. Pyongyang’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, warned that these exercises come at a critical time when the global security structure is “collapsing rapidly,” adding that the actions of “outrageous international rogues” could trigger unimaginable consequences.
Experts warn that North Korea’s missile tests, coupled with heightened US-South Korea military presence, could increase the risk of miscalculation. Diplomatic channels remain open, but Pyongyang’s defiance underscores the fragile state of peace on the Korean Peninsula.
