North Korea's missile launch coincides with joint military drills
North Korea launched several unidentified ballistic missiles toward the Yellow Sea, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The missiles were launched from Hwanghae Province. The JCS assured that surveillance and readiness measures have been enhanced to cooperate with the USA.
The missile launch coincided with the start of the Freedom Shield 2025 military exercises, involving the South Korean and U.S. armed forces. These exercises are scheduled to last 11 days.
North Korea's foreign ministry condemned these actions, calling them a "provocative act." In a statement, it warned of the possibility of war being triggered by "an accidental single shot."
In the past, North Korea has conducted missile tests in response to joint military exercises by Seoul and Washington. Although South Korea and the USA assert that the maneuvers are defensive in nature, Pyongyang perceives them as a threat. Last Friday, the North warned the drill participants that they would pay a "horrible price" for Freedom Shield 2025.
North Korea threatens again
This is the first ballistic missile launch by North Korea since January 20, when Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term as U.S. president. The last missile test took place on January 6, when Pyongyang conducted a test of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile with a hypersonic warhead.
North Korean media reported at the time on the "successful test of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) with a hypersonic warhead."
