Seoul : North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles towards the East Sea on Saturday, South Korea’s military said, a day after South Korea, the United States and Japan concluded a five-day trilateral military exercise.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched from the Wonsan area at around 5:20 a.m. The projectiles travelled approximately 250 kilometres before falling into the sea, while military authorities continued analysing their precise specifications.
The latest launch has added to concerns over Pyongyang’s continuing missile development and comes after another barrage of short-range ballistic missiles on August 20.
Launch follows joint military exercise
The launch came shortly after Seoul, Washington and Tokyo completed their Freedom Edge exercise in international waters east and south of South Korea’s Jeju Island.
North Korea has consistently criticised joint military exercises involving the United States and South Korea, describing them as preparations for a potential invasion. Pyongyang had earlier warned that it would take countermeasures against what it considers provocative military activities.
The latest developments also highlight the continuing importance of security cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the United States as North Korea expands its missile and nuclear capabilities.
Regional tensions remain high
South Korean and US intelligence authorities are closely monitoring North Korea’s military movements and sharing information with Japan. Seoul has also maintained a heightened state of readiness in case of further launches.
The timing of the missile launches is significant as Washington and Beijing are expected to hold a high-level summit later this month, with North Korea-related security issues likely to feature in discussions.
The latest incident demonstrates that despite diplomatic signals and efforts to manage tensions, North Korea continues to rely on weapons tests to demonstrate its military capabilities and respond to regional developments.