North Korea has fired several short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea shortly after the United States concluded its military exercise with its southern ally. The launch, the first in roughly three weeks, came a day after the United States, South Korea and Japan wrapped up their trilateral military drill, which North Korea regards as a provocation.
Missile launch details
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it spotted the launches of several missiles from North Korea's eastern coastal Wonsan region. The missiles travelled approximately 250 kilometres (155 miles) each towards North Korea's eastern waters.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it has enhanced its surveillance stance and was closely sharing intelligence on the launches with the US and Japan. South Korea's presidential national security council released a statement calling on North Korea to stop ballistic missile firings that breach U.N. Security Council resolutions.
US response and context
The US Pacific Command said the North's launch didn't present an immediate danger to US territory or to its allies. In a statement posted on X, it said: "We are aware of the recent missile launch and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies. The United States remains committed to the defense of the US homeland and our allies in the region."
The move comes after US President Donald Trump's decision to reduce a major bilateral military exercise with South Korea as a goodwill gesture. On Friday, the US, South Korea and Japan concluded their five-day Freedom Edge exercise as planned. The US Pacific Command said the militaries of the three nations "trained side by side across air, sea and cyber domains, sharpening the interoperability that keeps the region secure." It referenced maritime operations, air refuelling, cyber coordination and medical exercises.
