On March 14, 2026, North Korea launched over ten ballistic missiles into the sea, coinciding with joint military exercises conducted by the United States and South Korea. The South Korean military reported that the missiles were fired from an area near Pyongyang, targeting the eastern coast. Japan’s coast guard detected a potential ballistic missile landing outside its exclusive economic zone, as reported by NHK.
The missiles reached an altitude of 80 kilometers and traveled approximately 340 kilometers, according to Japan’s Ministry of Defense. North Korea has been testing various ballistic and cruise missiles for over twenty years, aiming to develop nuclear weapon delivery systems. Consequently, the country has faced multiple UN Security Council sanctions since 2006.
This week’s annual military exercises by South Korea and the United States are described as defensive, designed to assess readiness against North Korean threats. Hundreds of soldiers from both nations participated in river-crossing drills using tanks and armored vehicles, overseen by their combined forces commander. The United States maintains about 28,500 troops and fighter squadrons in South Korea.
North Korea often criticizes these military exercises, labeling them as rehearsals for an armed invasion. On Thursday, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with US President Donald Trump in Washington to explore reopening dialogue with North Korea. Trump expressed eagerness to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to Kim.
