By Muhammad Mamman
North Korea has fired multiple ballistic missiles into the sea, escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula just days after issuing a stern warning over joint military exercises conducted by the United States and South Korea.
South Korea’s military said the missiles were launched from the North’s eastern coast and travelled towards the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea. Authorities in Seoul described the launches as a “clear provocation” that threatens regional stability.
Japan’s defence ministry also confirmed the missile activity, noting that several projectiles were detected and are believed to have landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
The launches came shortly after Pyongyang condemned the ongoing US–South Korea joint military drills, which it views as a rehearsal for invasion. In a statement carried by state media, North Korea warned that the exercises would trigger a “serious security crisis” and vowed to respond with “powerful countermeasures”.
Washington and Seoul maintain that the drills are defensive in nature and aimed at strengthening readiness against potential threats from the North.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have remained high in recent years as Pyongyang continues to test advanced missile systems despite international sanctions designed to curb its weapons programme. Regional powers are closely monitoring the situation amid fears that further tests could deepen instability in Northeast Asia.
