North Korea launched over ten ballistic missiles into the sea on Saturday, according to South Korea’s military. This occurred during joint military drills conducted by the U.S. and South Korea, with U.S. President Donald Trump re-engaging in diplomatic efforts with Pyongyang.
Japan’s coast guard reported detecting perhaps a ballistic missile that landed in the ocean, likely outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, as per NHK, citing military sources.
The missiles were fired from near Pyongyang around 1:20 p.m., targeting waters off North Korea’s east coast, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff announced. North Korea has been testing a variety of ballistic and cruise missiles for more than twenty years, striving to develop nuclear delivery capabilities, which it is believed to have accomplished.
Despite multiple United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed since 2006, Pyongyang continues to defy international pressure, facing significant economic and trade restrictions.
This week, South Korea and the United States launched their annual large-scale military exercises, emphasizing their defensive purpose—focused on evaluating readiness against potential North Korean threats.
On Saturday, hundreds of U.S. and South Korean troops participated in river-crossing maneuvers, utilizing tanks and armored vehicles, led by the commanding officer of their combined forces. The U.S. has approximately 28,500 military personnel and numerous fighter jets stationed in South Korea.
North Korea often protests these exercises, viewing them as rehearsals for potential aggression by the allies.
Earlier in the week, South Korea’s Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with President Trump in Washington, discussing strategies to reopen dialogue with North Korea. Trump expressed a strong interest in meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which Kim conveyed to reporters.
