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Seoul, 10 March – North Korea has fired several ballistic missiles towards the Yellow Sea during the start of the joint US-South Korea Freedom Shield military exercises. This was reported by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency with reference to the South Korean military command.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the missiles were fired from Hwanghae Province in the interior of the DPRK. The military has not yet disclosed the type of missiles launched or their range.
Escalation against the backdrop of military exercises
The missile launch took place on the day of the start of the annual Freedom Shield exercise, which will last 11 days. The exercises are aimed at strengthening South Korea’s defence capabilities and enhancing coordination between allies.
In response to North Korea’s actions, South Korea and the United States have stepped up monitoring of the situation and are on full alert.
“Our military, in close coordination with the United States, is closely monitoring possible further provocations by the DPRK and maintains a high level of readiness,” the JCS headquarters said.
The first test after Trump’s return
The launch was the first known test of ballistic missiles by the DPRK since Donald Trump returned to the US presidency. Experts say that this incident could be the first major security challenge for the new Trump administration.
During his first term in office, Trump met with DPRK leader Kim Jong-un to negotiate denuclearisation. However, the talks did not lead to any significant results, and after they ended, the DPRK resumed regular missile tests.
Pyongyang condemns allied exercises
North Korea has traditionally been strongly opposed to joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, calling them a “rehearsal for invasion”.
The day before, the DPRK had already condemned Freedom Shield, threatening that Seoul and Washington would pay a “terrible” price for their actions.
Pyongyang systematically conducts military tests in response to such exercises, trying to put pressure on the United States and South Korea.
What’s next?
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are rising again, and the new missile launch could complicate any attempts at diplomatic negotiations between the US and the DPRK.
Analysts suggest that North Korea may continue testing in the coming weeks in an attempt to demonstrate its military might and influence Washington’s policy on sanctions and security in the region.
