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North Korea fired around 10 ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Saturday, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported, following Pyongyang’s warning of “terrible consequences” over South Korea–US military exercises.
According to a statement from JCS, Seoul’s military discovered “around ten ballistic missiles launched from the Sunan area in North Korea towards the East Sea at around 1:20 pm (04:20 GMT).”
The missiles were launched from the Sunan area and travelled roughly 350 kilometres.
JCS said South Korean and US authorities are analysing their exact specifications.
The military affirmed it is prepared to “respond overwhelmingly to any provocation.”
Japan’s defence ministry confirmed the launch, noting that “what is possibly a ballistic missile was launched from North Korea”.
[Emergency alert]
North Korea has launched a suspected ballistic missile. More updates to follow.— PM’s Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) March 14, 2026
Pyongyang has criticised recent diplomatic overtures from Seoul as a “clumsy, deceptive farce” and rejected US attempts to restart high-level talks.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently suggested the two nations could “get along” if Washington accepted Pyongyang’s nuclear status.
Analysts noted the number of missiles and the timing of the launch were unusual.
Hong Sung-pyo of the Korea Institute for Military Affairs told AFP that North Korea often conducts military provocations to draw global attention, especially while other international crises are underway.
“Global attention is currently focused on the war in the Middle East, and North Korea has historically carried out military provocations when it wants to draw attention to its presence,” Sung-pyo said.
“And that motive likely underlies this launch as well,” he added.
The launch comes with the start of South Korea-US spring military exercises, “Freedom Shield,” involving about 18,000 troops and running until March 19.
North Korea has long condemned such drills as rehearsals for invasion, and Kim Yo Jong, the leader’s sister, warned they could lead to “unimaginably terrible consequences.”
Pyongyang has condemned the US-Israeli attack on Iran as an “illegal act of aggression”, claiming it shows the “rogue” nature of the United States.
North Korea also recently carried out missile tests from the naval Choe Hyon destroyer, claiming the country was in the process of “arming the Navy with nuclear weapons”.
“North Korea has been devoting greater resources to its navy, with possible support from Russia. But Kim will have noticed that the US was able to sink most of the Iranian navy within a week,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.
“So Pyongyang is likely to conduct tests and issue rhetoric about nuclear command, control, and delivery systems to suggest it could inflict unacceptable harm if its naval forces come under attack.”
