A North Korea missile launch saw more than 10 ballistic missiles fired into the sea on Saturday, according to South Korea’s military, as US and South Korean forces carried out joint military drills.
Japan’s coast guard also said it detected what could be a ballistic missile that fell into the sea. Public broadcaster NHK, citing the military, reported that it appeared to land outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched from an area near Pyongyang at about 1:20 pm. They were fired toward waters off North Korea’s east coast.
The launch added to a long pattern of missile testing by Pyongyang. According to the source text, North Korea has test-launched ballistic and cruise missiles for more than two decades as it seeks the means to deliver nuclear weapons.
US And South Korean Forces Were Holding Major Drills
The missile launch happened while South Korea and the United States were conducting annual major military exercises in South Korea. The allies say the drills are defensive and meant to test readiness against threats from the North.
On Saturday, hundreds of US and South Korean troops carried out river-crossing drills using tanks and armoured combat vehicles. The commander of their combined forces oversaw the exercise.
The US military maintains about 28,500 troops and fighter jet squadrons in South Korea, according to the source text.
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Pyongyang Opposes Allied Military Exercises
North Korea has repeatedly criticised these joint drills. It says such exercises are “dress rehearsals” for armed aggression by the allies.
Despite multiple UN Security Council sanctions imposed since 2006, Pyongyang remains defiant. The source text says the sanctions have created major obstacles for its trade, economy and defence, but have not stopped its missile development.
The launch also came as diplomatic outreach re-entered the discussion. On Thursday, South Korea’s Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met US President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss ways to reopen dialogue with North Korea.
After the meeting, South Korea’s Kim told reporters that Trump was eager for an opportunity to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. That contrast between military drills and fresh talk of dialogue adds another layer to tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
