North Korea fired approximately 10 ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan from near Pyongyang’s international airport on Saturday. The missiles traveled about 220 miles before landing, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The launch followed a joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea known as Freedom Shield, an annual 11-day drill held every March. The move comes amid heightened diplomatic strain, just hours after South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with President Donald Trump in Washington.
South Korea has increased surveillance in response. Experts warn the missile tests could jeopardize ongoing diplomatic efforts.
North Korea has consistently labeled such drills as rehearsal invasions, citing them as justification for its weapons development. Just days earlier, Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, criticized the exercises during a period of global instability, accusing the U.S. and South Korea of reckless actions.
Recent imagery shows Kim Jong Un alongside his teenage daughter during missile tests, fueling speculation about her role in the regime’s future.
The U.S. is reportedly considering relocating missile defenses to the region amid growing tensions with Iran, though South Korea insists this would not alter its stance toward North Korea.