SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday. This happened just hours after South Korean and U.S. troops began their large-scale military exercises, which North Korea sees as a practice for invasion.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff reported this was North Korea’s fifth missile launch of the year. The missiles were detected coming from Hwanghae province in southwestern North Korea, but details on their range or any other specifics were not given. South Korea is enhancing its surveillance and working closely with the U.S. for coordination.
Earlier on the same day, the South Korean and U.S. militaries started their annual Freedom Shield exercises. This is their first major combined training since President Trump’s second term began. These drills include a variety of field exercises alongside the main training.
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry expressed strong concerns, saying the Freedom Shield training could lead to a “physical conflict” on the Korean Peninsula. They criticized the exercises, labeling them as aggressive and emphasized leader Kim Jong Un’s aim to expand North Korea’s nuclear capabilities in response to perceived threats from the U.S. and its allies in Asia.
This year’s drills come after a recent live-fire accident where South Korean jets mistakenly bombed a civilian area. The incident occurred during a warm-up drill last week, injuring around 30 people, with two in serious condition. The bombing took place in Pocheon, a town near the North Korean border, while South Korean and American forces were preparing for the Freedom Shield exercises.
An initial investigation revealed that one pilot mistakenly entered wrong coordinates and did not confirm the target visually. The second pilot had the correct coordinates but followed the first pilot’s orders without realizing the mistake. This briefing was shared with the Associated Press.
Gen. Lee Youngsu, the South Korean air force chief of staff, publicly apologized for the incident and the resulting injuries, stating that such mistakes “should never happen again.” Following the bombing, both the South Korean and U.S. militaries have halted all live-fire exercises in the country. They plan to resume training only after completing their investigation and implementing measures to prevent future mishaps.
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