05 / 10
North Korea fires missiles toward East Sea
The launch came after US, South Korean and Japanese forces completed a joint exercise.
What happened
South Korea’s military detected several short-range ballistic missiles fired from near Wonsan toward the East Sea on Saturday. The missiles fell into the sea after a joint United States, South Korean and Japanese exercise ended. Washington stated that the launch posed no immediate threat to US forces, territory or allies.
Numbers
- 250 kmReported missile flight distance — Before falling into the sea
- 05:20Launch time near Wonsan — Local time
- 5 daysLength of Freedom Edge exercise — Completed before the launch
Questions
- Why does North Korea oppose drills?
- Pyongyang has long called joint US-South Korean exercises rehearsals for invasion and framed missile activity as proportionate countermeasures.
- What did Seoul do after launch?
- South Korea’s national security office held an emergency meeting with defence and military officials to review the situation.
- How has Washington adjusted drills?
- In August, President Trump shortened a joint United States-South Korea exercise, saying it sent an inappropriate and hostile signal to Pyongyang.
- What diplomacy remains on the table?
- Trump announced plans in August to meet Kim Jong Un, seeking to revive ties he described from his first term.
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Support and opposition
Who supports this, and why
North Korean government — Joint military exercises rehearse an invasion, so Pyongyang is entitled to respond with proportionate countermeasures.