North Korea has launched ballistic missiles towards the sea off its eastern coast, South Korea’s military announced. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul detected several missiles originating from the Wonsan area around 5:20 AM on Saturday, which traveled approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) into the sea.

This latest missile firing comes just a day after South Korea concluded five days of joint maritime drills with the United States and Japan. These exercises were specifically focused on North Korea, a move that has consistently drawn criticism from Pyongyang.

South Korea's presidential National Security Office confirmed an emergency security meeting was held following the launch, involving the Defence Ministry, the JCS, and other relevant agencies. The nation stated it has boosted its surveillance posture and is engaged in close information sharing regarding the launches with both the United States and Japan.

The US Pacific Command assessed that the North Korean launch event does not present an immediate threat to U.S. territory or its allies. Washington reiterated its commitment to the defense of South Korea and other regional allies.

North Korea’s defense minister, Kim Song Gi, had previously criticized the recent joint drills, warning of "strong and reflective countermeasures." Pyongyang has long viewed U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises as rehearsals for an invasion and has frequently conducted missile launches around the time of these drills.

Late last month, North Korea also condemned the planned "Freedom Edge" exercises, calling them a "threat" to Pyongyang and the region. This occurred despite an overture from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had expressed intentions to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

In August, North Korea fired a barrage of missiles into the sea during shorter U.S.-South Korea "Ulchi Freedom Shield" military exercises. President Trump had ordered a scaling back of these drills, deeming them "inappropriate and hostile" towards North Korea, a decision that raised concerns among U.S. allies in the region.

Pyongyang's continued missile activity underscores the ongoing tensions and diplomatic challenges in the Korean Peninsula, with international observers closely monitoring the trajectory of inter-Korean relations and the broader security landscape.