North Korea Fires 10 Ballistic Missiles Amid Seoul-Washington Military Exercises
South Korea calls North Korea’s 10-missile launch a UNSC violation and urges an immediate halt amid joint exercises.
South Korea’s presidential Office of National Security on Saturday condemned North Korea’s launch of around 10 ballistic missiles as a violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, urging Pyongyang to halt further tests. The statement came after an emergency security assessment meeting convened shortly after the launches, which were fired toward the East Sea.
“The latest ballistic missile launches by North Korea constitute a provocation that violates UNSC resolutions, and we call for an immediate halt,” the office said in a press release. The meeting, attended by officials from the Defence Ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, assessed the impact on national security and reviewed necessary countermeasures. President Lee Jae Myung was briefed on the launches and South Korea’s responses.
The missiles were fired at approximately 1:20 p.m. from Sunan, near Pyongyang, covering a distance of about 350 kilometres. South Korean and US military analysts are currently examining the missiles’ specifications. This is the first ballistic missile test by North Korea since January 27 and represents one of the rare instances in which about 10 missiles were launched simultaneously.
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Officials suggest that the launches were likely a response to the annual Freedom Shield exercise, a springtime joint military drill between South Korea and the United States, which began on Monday and will continue for 11 days. The missile tests are widely interpreted as North Korea’s show of force against the Seoul-Washington exercises.
Meanwhile, the South Korean and US militaries conducted joint river-crossing drills on Saturday along the Imjin River in Yeoncheon, about 50 kilometres north of Seoul. The exercise involved approximately 200 pieces of equipment, including KM3 amphibious bridging vehicles and ribbon bridge systems, aiming to enhance interoperability between the allied forces.
The missile launches underscore escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula as South Korea and the United States continue their military preparations. Seoul has emphasized the need for thorough contingency readiness and vowed to respond to provocations while pursuing diplomatic channels to enforce international security norms.
