Following US-South Korea-Japan drills, North Korea launches short-range missiles.

North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles were launched from around 5:20 a.m. (2020 GMT on Friday) and flew about 250 km (155 miles), the JCS said in a statement, adding that South Korean and U.S. authorities were conducting a detailed analysis of their specifications.

According to the JCS, information about the ballistic missiles was also provided with Japan, and South Korean and US intelligence services had been monitoring and exchanging information about the launches from the beginning.

“South Korea’s military is closely monitoring North Korean activity and maintaining the capability and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation under its combined defence posture with the United States,” the JCS said in a statement.

Following the launch, the JCS, the defence ministry, and other pertinent agencies met an emergency security meeting, according to the presidential National Security Office of South Korea.

According to the presidential office, officials evaluated the government’s response, evaluated how the launches affected South Korea’s security, and looked into any necessary actions. Calling ballistic missile launches a grave violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, it called on North Korea to cease them immediately.

Separately, US Pacific Command said it was aware of the launches and was consulting closely with allies and partners. It said the launches, based on its current assessment, did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory or allies. “The United States remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region,” it said in a post on X.

In addition to ordering its military to remain fully prepared for South Korea’s ongoing joint drills with the United States, North Korea launched over ten short-range ballistic missiles last month.

The launch on Saturday took place one day after joint military exercises between South Korea, Japan, and the United States to assess preparedness against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. Separately, US President Donald Trump announced last month that he anticipated seeing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year and dramatically reduced military exercises that he characterised as unfriendly to Pyongyang.