North Korea fires four ballistic missiles following US, Seoul joint drills

In what would be the latest flare of tensions in the Korean peninsula, North Korea has again fired four more ballistic missiles into the sea. The firing of rockets comes as the military drills of the United States and South Korea came to a close over the weekend.

The South Korean military said North Korea fired four short-range ballistic missiles into the western sea Saturday as the US and South Korea wrapped up their joint military drills. Saturday’s launches were the latest in multiple rocket firings by Pyongyang, drawing international condemnation, especially from Washington, Seoul, and Japan, and raising concerns that the isolated nation is gearing up for its first nuclear test since 2017.

The South Korean military said the missiles flew around 180 kilometers and reached an altitude of approximately 20 kilometers.

The joint drills by Seoul and Washington involved around 240 military aircraft, two US B-1B strategic bombers, four F-16 fighters, and four F35A fighters.

This would be the first time the B-1B has been deployed in the joint drills since 2017, which the Seoul Joint Chiefs of Staff said showed “the combined defense capabilities and determination of the Republic of Korea and the US to resolutely respond to any provocations from North Korea, and the will of the US to implement a strong commitment to extended deterrence.”

Friday last week, Pyongyang demanded that Seoul and Washington stop their “provocative” air drills. South Korea said it scrambled fighter planes as a response to 180 North Korean military flights near the border separating the two countries.

Pyongyang has continued to protest against the joint drills South Korea has been holding with its allies. On Monday, the North Korean military said the joint drills that took place last week were considered by Pyongyang as an “open provocation and dangerous war drill” that sought to escalate tensions in the peninsula.

The North Korean military also said it conducted drills that simulated attacks on airbases and aircraft, including a major South Korean city, “to smash the enemies’ persistent war hysteria.”

On the same day, the South Korean military said it recovered parts of what is believed to be a North Korean ballistic missile that landed off the South Korean coast last week.