North Korea fired around 10 ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Saturday, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
Officials in Seoul said the launches were detected early in the afternoon and reported that around ten unidentified ballistic missiles were fired from the Sunan area, located near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. The projectiles were launched at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time (0420 GMT) and traveled eastward toward waters that South Korea refers to as the East Sea. Earlier in the day, South Korean authorities had already indicated that North Korea had fired at least one unidentified projectile in the same direction. Japan’s government later confirmed it had also detected a launch. According to Japanese officials, the object appeared to be a ballistic missile that eventually landed in the sea.
The launches come at a time when the United States and South Korea are conducting their annual springtime joint military drills. These exercises involve thousands of troops from both countries and are designed to improve military coordination and readiness between the long-time allies.
North Korea has consistently criticized such exercises, arguing that they amount to rehearsals for a potential invasion of its territory. Pyongyang has often responded to the drills with weapons tests or sharp warnings. In the days leading up to the current exercises, North Korean officials warned that the allies could face what they described as “terrible consequences” if the drills continued.
For decades, the United States and its partners have attempted to curb North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs through sanctions, diplomatic negotiations, and international pressure. Despite several rounds of talks over the years, lasting progress has remained elusive. The latest launches also come amid renewed discussion about possible diplomatic engagement. South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok recently said that U.S. President Donald Trump believes a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could be beneficial in easing tensions.
However, Pyongyang appeared to reject the idea, with state media describing the latest peace outreach as a “clumsy” and “deceptive” attempt at diplomacy.
