SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched around 10 unidentified ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Saturday, according to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), amid rising tensions over South Korea-US military exercises. The launches come days after Pyongyang warned of “terrible consequences” over the ongoing drills, which North Korea sees as a rehearsal for invasion.
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Seoul’s military said the missiles were fired from the Sunan area toward the East Sea at approximately 1:20 pm local time (0420 GMT). Japan’s Defence Ministry also confirmed the launch, noting that the projectiles were “possibly ballistic missiles.”
The approximate 10 ballistic missiles launched by North Korea flew around 350km. South Korea and the US are analysing the exact specifications. pic.twitter.com/AUzDrWwuo3
— Raphael Rashid (@koryodynasty) March 14, 2026
The strike follows North Korea’s recent denunciation of peace overtures from South Korea, calling diplomatic efforts a “clumsy, deceptive farce.” Pyongyang has also criticized the United States, condemning its strikes on Iran as an “illegal act of aggression” and labeling Washington a “rogue” actor.
The missile launches occurred hours after South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok relayed US President Donald Trump’s statement that a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would be “good.” Washington has long sought to dismantle Pyongyang’s nuclear program, but past sanctions and summits have yielded little progress. Talks for a potential high-level summit this year remain uncertain.
Kim Yo Jong, a top North Korean official and sister of Kim Jong Un, warned that the joint South Korea-US drills “may cause unimaginably terrible consequences,” criticizing the exercises as reckless amid a fragile global security environment.
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The developments highlight growing regional tensions as North Korea continues to assert its nuclear capabilities while signaling opposition to both US diplomacy and joint military exercises in the region. Analysts warn that continued missile tests may further destabilize the already volatile security situation on the Korean Peninsula.