North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea on September 12, a move analysts suggest is a response to recent joint military exercises conducted by South Korea, the United States, and Japan.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the military detected several ballistic missiles launched from the Wonsan area at around 5:20 a.m. They added that the military has heightened monitoring and vigilance in preparation for any additional launches, while South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are closely sharing information related to North Korean ballistic missiles.
This launch occurred just one day after the conclusion of the Freedom Shield exercises, which took place in the waters southeast of Jeju from September 7 to 11. Analysts view this as a retaliatory action.
The Freedom Shield drills, first held in June 2024, are designed to address North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and enhance the interoperability of the three nations' forces. North Korea has criticized these exercises as a demonstration of U.S.-led aggression.
Notably, this marks North Korea's first ballistic missile launch in 23 days, following a series of joint military drills by South Korea and the U.S. known as the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) conducted on August 20. This year alone, North Korea has launched ballistic missiles 13 times.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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