On Monday morning, North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards its east coast, as confirmed by the South Korean military. This action comes shortly after the conclusion of the South Korean-U.S. military drills, which North Korea perceives as a rehearsal for invasion.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff provided limited information, refraining from disclosing the distance the missile traveled. Japan's Defense Ministry also reported detecting the missile launch, with the Japanese coast guard noting that a suspected North Korean missile landed in the ocean.
This missile test marks North Korea's first known launch since conducting cruise missile tests in mid-February. Notably, during the recent South Korea-U.S. military drills, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw various military training exercises involving tanks, artillery guns, and paratroopers. However, the North refrained from conducting missile tests during the joint drills.
The 11-day South Korean-U.S. drills encompassed computer-simulated command post training and 48 types of field exercises, double the number conducted in the previous year. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain heightened following North Korea's series of missile tests since 2022, many of which involved nuclear-capable missiles targeting South Korea and the mainland U.S.
Leading up to Monday's launch, North Korea had conducted six rounds of missile tests this year. In response, U.S. and South Korean forces have escalated their training exercises. Experts suggest that North Korea aims to bolster its weapons arsenal to enhance its bargaining power in future negotiations with the United States, seeking significant sanctions relief while retaining its nuclear capabilities.
