Tokyo, Japan — North Korea launched around a dozen short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea’s military said, in the latest show of force by Pyongyang amid ongoing U.S.-South Korean military exercises.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched from the Pyongyang area at around 5 p.m. local time and flew approximately 300 kilometers before falling into waters to the east of the Korean Peninsula. South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities were closely tracking the launches and were conducting a detailed analysis of the missiles’ specifications.
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Japan’s Defense Ministry also confirmed the launches and said multiple missiles traveled roughly 320 kilometers, reaching a maximum altitude of about 90 kilometers. The projectiles were believed to have fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, with no immediate reports of damage to aircraft or vessels.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who was in New Delhi for talks with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, said Tokyo had lodged a strong protest with Pyongyang over the launches. Japan, South Korea and the United States were coordinating closely to assess the situation and monitor for any further launches.
The missile launches came as the United States and South Korea conduct their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise. The drills, designed to strengthen the allies’ ability to respond to a potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula, are scheduled to conclude Friday after being significantly reduced from their original timetable.
The exercise had initially been scheduled to continue through August 27, but U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction in the scale of American participation, including the cancellation of some field training. The move was widely viewed as an attempt to reduce tensions and create space for renewed diplomacy with Pyongyang.
North Korea, however, has rejected the suggestion that scaling back the exercises changes their nature. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said the reduction in the drills did not alter what Pyongyang considers their hostile character. She has repeatedly criticized the U.S.-South Korean military exercises as preparations for war.
The latest launches came shortly after Pyongyang dismissed Washington’s apparent overture for renewed engagement. Despite the reduction in the military drills, North Korea has continued to signal that it remains dissatisfied with the U.S. and South Korean security posture on the Korean Peninsula.
In Seoul, authorities immediately stepped up surveillance and maintained a heightened military readiness posture. South Korea’s presidential office also convened an emergency security meeting involving officials from the Defense Ministry and military authorities to assess the implications of the launches and review the country’s response.
In Tokyo, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed relevant government agencies to gather and analyze information, provide accurate updates to the public and take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of aircraft and vessels.
The launches also come against the backdrop of growing security concerns across Northeast Asia, where North Korea’s expanding missile capabilities have heightened tensions with South Korea, Japan and the United States.
Thursday’s barrage was North Korea’s third ballistic-missile launch this month, following launches on August 6 and August 12. The repeated tests underscore Pyongyang’s continued development and demonstration of its missile capabilities despite international pressure and ongoing diplomatic efforts.
South Korean and U.S. authorities said they would continue closely monitoring North Korean military activity for signs of additional launches or other provocations.
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