Seoul: North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Saturday, as confirmed by South Korea's military, following the conclusion of a trilateral military exercise involving South Korea, the United States, and Japan.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that the missiles were launched from the Wonsan area at approximately 5:20 a.m. The JCS is currently working with the U.S. to analyze the exact specifications of the missiles, which traveled around 250 kilometers before landing in the sea. South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities have been monitoring North Korea's movements and have shared pertinent information with Japan.
The JCS emphasized that the South Korean military is maintaining close surveillance of North Korea's activities under a solid South Korea-U.S. defense posture. They assured that the capabilities and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocations are intact. The missiles launched are believed to include the Hwasong-11 series and rounds from 600-millimeter multiple rocket launchers.
This missile launch follows the completion of the five-day Freedom Edge exercise by Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo in international waters near South Korea's southern island of Jeju. Although the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise was scaled back last month following an order from U.S. President Donald Trump, the recent drills proceeded as planned. Trump had described the joint military drills as not only costly but also sending an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea.
The South Korean military has heightened its surveillance to detect any additional launches and maintains readiness on "full alert" while continuing to share relevant information with the U.S. and Japan. The launch also comes after North Korean Defense Minister Kim Song-gi condemned the trilateral exercise, promising "reflective countermeasures" if provoked.
Historically, North Korea has criticized joint military drills between Seoul and Washington, viewing them as rehearsals for invasion and has often responded with its own weapons tests. The timing of this latest launch is significant as it precedes a high-stakes summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with North Korea-related issues expected to be on the agenda.