North Korea launched around 10 ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Saturday, according to South Korea’s military.
The launches came while the US and South Korea were conducting their annual joint military exercise.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the missiles were fired from the Sunan area in North Korea at about 1:20 p.m. The launch marked the country’s third ballistic missile test of the year.
Te“Our military maintains a firm readiness posture,” the JCS said. “We are closely sharing information on North Korea’s ballistic missiles with the US and Japan while keeping a heightened surveillance posture against additional launches.”
Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office issued an alert on X, warning that North Korea had launched what appeared to be a ballistic missile. The message said the situation was developing and more information would follow.
Soon after the alert, the government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi activated emergency monitoring systems to track the missile’s path. She has consistently taken a firm stance on regional security and the defence of Japanese territory.
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported on Saturday that the launch has increased security concerns in the region. The Japan Coast Guard said at around 1:30 p.m. that a suspected ballistic missile had been fired from North Korea, based on information from the defence ministry.
READ ALSO: CERN and UK Team Build Tiny Robot to Inspect Large Hadron Collider
The coast guard also issued a warning to ships operating in nearby waters. It asked them to stay alert and follow further updates about the situation.
According to NHK, the missile did not pose an immediate threat to Japan. Defence officials believe the projectile landed in waters outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The missile test took place during the annual Freedom Shield exercise between the US and South Korea. The large-scale joint drills began on Monday and are scheduled to run for 11 days.
North Korea has repeatedly criticized the joint military drills. Pyongyang claims the exercises are preparations for an invasion. However, Seoul and Washington say the drills are purely defensive and designed to strengthen allied readiness.
Earlier this week, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, strongly condemned the exercises. She warned that the drills could bring unimaginably terrible consequences.
READ ALSO: Lost 19th Century Film Showing First Robot Ever on Screen Found in US Archive
The missile launch also followed a recent weapons test by North Korea. State media reported that the country launched strategic cruise missiles from the Choe Hyon destroyer. During the test, Kim Jong-un stressed the importance of maintaining and expanding what he called a powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent.
The latest launch came amid renewed speculation about possible diplomatic talks. South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok recently said US President Donald Trump remains open to resuming dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, though no specific timeline has been set.
The remarks came as reports suggested Trump could meet Kim during a planned visit to China. The US President is expected to travel there between late March and early April for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
WATCH ALSO: Top research robot integrated with new intelligence platform
North Korea’s previous missile launch took place on January 27, 2026. At that time, Pyongyang fired several short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea. The North said the test was meant to evaluate a new large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system.
The latest missile activity highlights continuing tensions on the Korean Peninsula as military drills and weapons tests continue on both sides.
