Pyongyang fires around 10 ballistic missiles toward the East Sea amid ongoing US–South Korea military drills.The launch comes during heightened regional tensions and warnings from North Korean leadership…reports London Daily News Desk
North Korea has launched around 10 ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, in its latest show of military force amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the missiles were detected at approximately 1:20 pm local time on Saturday after being launched from the Sunan area near the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. South Korea’s military confirmed the launches and said it was closely monitoring developments.
The South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the projectiles were fired toward the East Sea and that the South Korean military remains on high alert following the incident. The launch marked North Korea’s third ballistic missile test of the year.
“Our military maintains a firm readiness posture while closely sharing North Korean ballistic missile information with the US and Japanese sides amid a heightened surveillance posture against additional launches,” the JCS said in a statement quoted by Yonhap.
The latest missile launch comes as South Korea and the United States are conducting their annual joint military exercise known as Freedom Shield. The large-scale drills began earlier this week and are scheduled to run for 11 days, involving coordinated operations between the allied forces.
North Korea has repeatedly condemned such joint exercises, describing them as rehearsals for an invasion. Pyongyang has long argued that the drills increase instability on the Korean Peninsula and threaten its security.
However, both Seoul and Washington have consistently rejected those accusations, maintaining that the exercises are purely defensive in nature and aimed at strengthening military coordination between the allies.
Tensions surrounding the drills intensified earlier this week when Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, strongly criticised the military exercises. She warned that the continued drills could bring what she described as “unimaginably terrible consequences”.
The latest development also follows another recent weapons test by North Korea. State media previously reported that the country test-fired strategic cruise missiles from the Choe Hyon destroyer, with Kim Jong-un emphasising the need to maintain and expand what he called a “powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent”.
North Korea has continued to accelerate its weapons testing programme in recent years, conducting numerous missile launches while advancing its nuclear capabilities. These developments have raised concerns among neighbouring countries as well as the international community.
South Korea has strongly condemned the latest missile launches, describing them as a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and urging Pyongyang to halt further provocations.
The presidential office overseeing national security issued the statement after holding an emergency security assessment meeting shortly after the launches.
“The latest ballistic missile launches by North Korea constitute a provocation that violates UNSC resolutions, and we call for an immediate halt,” the office said in a press release.
Officials also briefed South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on the details of the launches and the government’s response measures.
The emergency meeting brought together senior officials from the defence ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to assess the potential security implications of the tests and discuss countermeasures. Participants emphasised the need for strong contingency readiness to address any possible escalation.
The missiles reportedly travelled around 350 kilometres before landing in waters off the Korean Peninsula. South Korea’s military, working in coordination with the United States, is currently analysing the missiles’ specifications.
The launches marked North Korea’s first ballistic missile test since January 27. Firing about 10 missiles simultaneously is considered unusual and is widely viewed as a show of force amid heightened regional tensions.
Meanwhile, South Korean and US forces staged joint river-crossing drills on the Imjin River in Yeoncheon, about 50 kilometres north of Seoul, as part of the ongoing military exercise. The training involved around 200 pieces of equipment, including amphibious bridging vehicles and ribbon bridge systems, aimed at enhancing operational interoperability between the two allied militaries.
Diplomatic efforts regarding North Korea’s nuclear programme remain uncertain. South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok recently said that Donald Trump remains open to resuming dialogue with Kim Jong-un, though the timing of any potential talks remains unclear.
His remarks came amid speculation that Trump could seek a meeting with the North Korean leader during a planned visit to China for a summit with Xi Jinping in early April.
The latest missile activity is expected to heighten security concerns across the region as monitoring continues for any further launches or military actions by North Korea.
