North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles on Monday in response to joint military drills conducted by South Korea and the United States, which Pyongyang condemned as a provocative act that could lead to accidental confrontation. According to South Korea’s military, the missiles were launched from North Korea’s western region towards the Yellow Sea, marking the first ballistic missile test since the return of U.S. President Donald Trump in January.
The missiles are believed to be close-range ballistic missiles, which have a range of under 300 km (186 miles), according to South Korean defense officials. The launch comes amid the ongoing Freedom Shield military exercises between South Korea and the U.S., scheduled to run until March 20. While the drills are designed to enhance the alliance’s readiness against threats from North Korea, live-fire exercises have been suspended following a tragic incident last week, in which South Korean jets mistakenly dropped bombs on a civilian town near the border, injuring 29 people.
North Korea has repeatedly denounced such joint military exercises, viewing them as a precursor to an invasion. In a statement, North Korea’s foreign ministry labeled the drills as “a dangerous provocative act,” warning that they could escalate tensions and lead to a physical conflict. The ministry added that the drills would also harm U.S. security.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Air Force Chief, Lee Young-su, publicly apologized for the bomb-drop accident, acknowledging the severity of the mistake.
