North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into waters off its eastern coast on Saturday, according to South Korean and US officials, shortly after a joint military exercise involving the United States, South Korea and Japan ended.
The launches were the North’s first reported ballistic missile tests in about three weeks and came amid ongoing tensions over military exercises that Pyongyang has repeatedly criticized as rehearsals for an invasion.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said several projectiles were fired from an area near Wonsan along North Korea’s east coast. The missiles flew approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) before landing in the sea.
Seoul said it has strengthened surveillance efforts and is coordinating with Washington and Tokyo to determine more details about the launches.
South Korea’s presidential National Security Council condemned the missile tests and urged Pyongyang to stop activities that violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The US Pacific Command said the launches did not pose an immediate threat to US territory or its allies, while reaffirming Washington’s commitment to defending the United States and its regional partners.
The missile launches followed the conclusion on Friday of the five-day Freedom Edge exercise, which brought together American, South Korean and Japanese forces.
The US Pacific Command said the participating countries “trained side by side across air, sea and cyber domains, sharpening the interoperability that keeps the region secure.”
The drills featured maritime operations, aerial refueling, cyber coordination and medical training, among other activities.
Seoul has described the exercises as defensive measures designed to strengthen the three countries’ ability to respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities.
Pyongyang has strongly opposed the drills. After the exercises began Monday, North Korean Defense Minister Kim Song Gi warned of “strong and reflective countermeasures from the standpoint of power.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has continued efforts to expand his country’s nuclear and military capabilities. At a Sunday ceremony commissioning North Korea’s second naval destroyer, Kim called for a more reliable nuclear deterrent.
Pyongyang has claimed that both destroyers can be armed with missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The second vessel had previously suffered damage during an unsuccessful launch last year before being repaired and commissioned.
Kim has expanded North Korea’s nuclear program since his negotiations with then-US President Donald Trump broke down in 2019.
Last month, Trump directed the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise with South Korea, pointing to what he described as a good relationship with Kim. Pyongyang has historically regarded the drills as preparations for an invasion.
Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader’s sister and a senior official, dismissed the US decision, saying that reducing the drills would not change their “provocative, aggressive nature.”
North Korea subsequently launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea, in what was viewed as a response to the US-South Korean military activities.
As North Korea continues developing its nuclear capabilities while strengthening ties with Russia and China, analysts say Kim could demand greater concessions from Washington should diplomatic engagement resume.
Earlier this year, Kim indicated that Pyongyang could consider returning to negotiations if Washington abandons what North Korea calls its “hostile policy” and recognizes the country as a nuclear-armed state.