North Korea fires several ballistic missiles off eastern coast after joint drills

South Korea said North Korea fired several ballistic missiles into the sea off its eastern coast on Saturday, in a launch that prompted an emergency security meeting in Seoul. The South Korean military said it detected the missiles from the Wonsan area at about 5:20am local time, with the projectiles travelling about 250 kilometres. Officials in Seoul said they were closely exchanging information with the United States and Japan after the launch.

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South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched from North Korea's eastern coastal area of Wonsan. South Korea's presidential National Security Office said it convened an emergency meeting with the Defence Ministry, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other relevant agencies. The US Pacific Command said the launch did not pose an immediate threat to US territory or allies, while adding that Washington remained committed to the defence of South Korea and other partners in the region.

The launch came a day after South Korea completed five days of joint maritime drills with the United States and Japan focused on North Korea. Hours after those exercises began earlier in the week, North Korea's defence minister, Kim Song Gi, criticised the drills and warned of what he called strong and reflective countermeasures. Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned joint military exercises involving South Korea and the United States, describing them as rehearsals for invasion.

The latest launch adds to a pattern of missile activity linked to periods of allied military training in the region. Late last month, North Korea also criticised plans for the Freedom Edge exercises in international waters off South Korea, calling them a threat to Pyongyang and other countries in the region. The country fired a barrage of missiles into the sea on 20 August, despite an overture from US President Donald Trump, who said he planned to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year.

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The timing of the launch is significant because it follows closely on the end of trilateral maritime drills by South Korea, the United States and Japan. Those exercises were designed around North Korea-related contingencies, and the response from Pyongyang suggests the drills remain a central point of tension in regional security relations. The incident also comes as Washington continues to signal support for its allies while trying to manage a cycle of military signalling and counter-signalling on the Korean peninsula.

What remains unclear is whether the missiles were part of a larger test programme or a one-off launch, and whether North Korea will issue an official statement. South Korean officials said they were continuing to analyse the launch with US and Japanese counterparts. Further details on the type of missiles and any additional launches would help clarify the scale and intent of the event.

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