On Saturday, North Korea launched around 10 ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan, according to Joint Chiefs of Staff in South Korea.
The missiles were reportedly fired from the Sunan area near Pyongyang and headed toward what Seoul calls the East Sea.
Officials in Japan also confirmed the launch, saying a projectile believed to be a ballistic missile had been detected.
The timing is no coincidence. The test comes just days after Pyongyang warned of “terrible consequences.”
The warning was over joint military drills between South Korea and the United States.
The annual exercise, known as Freedom Shield, involves roughly 18,000 South Korean troops.
It is often condemned by the North as a rehearsal for invasion.
Missile Drills Signal Tension
Adding another twist, the launch happened hours after South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok revealed.
Donald Trump believes meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would be “good.” Hinting at a possible summit.
But Pyongyang’s signals have been mixed. While Kim recently said the two nations could “get along” if Washington accepts its nuclear status.
His sister Kim Yo Jong warned the drills could trigger “unimaginably terrible consequences.”
Diplomacy or deterrence? On the Korean Peninsula, the line between the two often looks razor thin.
