North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast early Saturday morning, according to military officials in Seoul.
The weapons test occurred just a day after South Korea, the United States, and Japan concluded five days of joint maritime military exercises focused on counter-threat operations against Pyongyang.
​South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated that the launches were detected around 5:20 a.m. local time (20:20 GMT Friday) originating from the eastern coastal area of Wonsan. The missiles traveled approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast before falling into the sea.
​The launches follow the Friday conclusion of the trilateral “Freedom Edge” joint exercises, which began on Monday, September 7. The drills featured coordinated maneuvers across air, sea, and cyber domains intended to bolster mutual defense against nuclear and missile threats.
North Korean Defense Minister Kim Song Gi condemned the joint drills on Monday, denouncing them as “provocative” and threatening “strong and reflective countermeasures from the standpoint of power.”
South Korea’s presidential National Security Council issued a statement urging Pyongyang to immediately halt missile firings, noting that the act directly violates UN Security Council resolutions.
U.S. Pacific Command confirmed it monitored the launches in real time alongside South Korea and Japan, assessing that the weapons did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. territory or its regional allies.
​The launches mark North Korea’s first ballistic missile tests in three weeks, signaling Pyongyang’s continued push to expand its strategic capabilities amidst regional military exercises.
Both South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies are conducting further technical analysis on the trajectory and specifications of the projectiles.
