North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles into the Yellow Sea on Monday, just hours after denouncing a large-scale joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea. The missile tests add to rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula as Pyongyang continues its pattern of aggressive military responses to U.S.-South Korean defense drills.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the missiles were detected around 1:50 p.m. local time, fired from Hwanghae Province, which lies southwest of Pyongyang. The JCS did not immediately provide details on the type or range of the missiles but reaffirmed that the South Korean military remains on high alert in coordination with U.S. forces.
“Our military will bolster surveillance and maintain a full readiness posture under close cooperation with the United States,” the JCS said in a statement.
The missile launches coincided with the start of Freedom Shield 2025, a joint U.S.-South Korean military exercise that will run until March 20. The annual drill includes live, virtual, and field-based training to strengthen combat readiness against potential North Korean threats.
Earlier on Monday, North Korea’s foreign ministry condemned the exercise, calling it a “dangerous provocative act” that could lead to a “physical conflict by means of an accidental single shot.” Pyongyang routinely opposes such drills, viewing them as a rehearsal for an invasion, despite repeated assurances from Washington and Seoul that the exercises are purely defensive.
“This is a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean Peninsula, which may spark off a physical conflict between the two sides by means of an accidental single shot,” Pyongyang’s foreign ministry said via the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The latest weapons test is part of an ongoing cycle of military escalation in the region. North Korea has repeatedly tested ballistic missiles in violation of United Nations sanctions, launching a record number last year. These tests serve as a show of force against the U.S.-South Korean alliance and as demonstrations of Pyongyang’s evolving missile capabilities.
North Korea’s missile launches have become increasingly frequent and sophisticated. Last year, it tested solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and hypersonic weapons, highlighting its progress in missile technology despite crippling international sanctions.
Monday’s missile test underscores the volatile security situation on the Korean Peninsula, where relations between North and South Korea have reached their lowest point in years. Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions have stalled since the collapse of talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019.
The United States stations approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea as part of a long-standing military alliance aimed at deterring North Korean aggression. U.S. and South Korean officials emphasize that joint drills like Freedom Shield are necessary to ensure preparedness for any potential conflict.
A U.S. military statement said the exercise will involve simulated and real-world training scenarios, including cyber defense and response to North Korean provocations. The goal is to improve coordination between U.S. and South Korean forces in the event of an actual conflict.
Despite North Korea’s threats, the U.S. and South Korea have vowed to continue their joint exercises, arguing that suspending them in the past did not lead to Pyongyang scaling back its missile tests or military buildup.
The Freedom Shield exercises have already faced challenges. On March 6, during a joint training session with U.S. forces, two South Korean Air Force fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a village. The incident, which took place in the southern part of the country, injured 31 people, including civilians and military personnel.
The South Korean military has apologized and launched an investigation into the mishap. While such accidents are rare, they have fueled criticism of the large-scale drills, both domestically and internationally.
North Korea was quick to seize on the incident, using it as further justification for its anti-U.S. rhetoric and claims that Washington and Seoul’s military activities pose a real threat to regional stability.
North Korea’s missile launch follows a series of sharp condemnations of U.S. military actions in the region. Last week, Pyongyang denounced the visit of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to the South Korean port of Busan, calling it a “political and military provocation.”
Tensions have worsened since the United States strengthened its military presence in the Indo-Pacific to counter North Korea and China. Washington has pledged greater support for South Korea and Japan, including increased military drills and strategic asset deployments.
In response, North Korea has deepened its ties with Russia and China, seeking alternative diplomatic and economic partnerships to counter Western pressure. Last year, Pyongyang openly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, further aligning itself with Moscow.
As Freedom Shield continues, more North Korean missile tests are expected. In the past, Pyongyang has used these exercises as a pretext for escalating its military activities, including testing long-range ICBMs capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.
Experts warn that tensions could further escalate in the coming weeks, especially if North Korea conducts another nuclear test. The country has repeatedly hinted at developing tactical nuclear weapons that could be deployed in battlefield scenarios.
With diplomacy stalled and military posturing on both sides intensifying, the Korean Peninsula remains a flashpoint for conflict in East Asia. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether North Korea escalates further or if diplomatic backchannels manage to prevent a full-blown crisis.
For now, South Korea and the United States are maintaining a watchful stance, ensuring they are prepared for whatever Pyongyang does next.
