North Korea fired 10 artillery shells after joint air drills by South Korea, the US, and Japan. The launch follows increasing regional tensions, recent cruise missile tests, and North Korea’s failed naval launch, raising concerns over Pyongyang’s military intentions amid growing trilateral defense cooperation.
North Korea fired approximately ten artillery shells using its 240mm multiple rocket launcher system into the Yellow Sea on Thursday morning, South Korea’s military confirmed. The provocation comes just a day after a high-profile trilateral air drill conducted jointly by South Korea, the United States, and Japan—an exercise intended to bolster regional defense cooperation amid growing North Korean military threats.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the artillery rounds were launched at around 10 a.m. local time from the Sunan area near Pyongyang, a site known for previous missile and rocket tests. The military statement noted that South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies are jointly analyzing the launch data to determine its technical specifics and strategic intent.
The test-firing underscores North Korea’s continued efforts to enhance the capabilities of its multiple rocket launcher systems, particularly the 240mm version, which poses a direct threat to the capital Seoul and surrounding metropolitan areas. This launcher system, in recent years, has reportedly been upgraded with new guidance technology to improve accuracy and range—raising serious security concerns among regional defense authorities.
This artillery test follows a major trilateral air exercise held on Wednesday, involving combat aircraft from the three allied nations. South Korea deployed its F-15K fighter jets, the U.S. operated F-16s, and Japan participated with its F-2 fighters. The joint aerial drills were the first of their kind since President Lee Jae Myung assumed office, signaling a renewed commitment to multilateral defense preparedness under his leadership.
Military analysts suggest that the timing of the North’s artillery test was a direct response to the trilateral drills, reflecting Pyongyang’s longstanding opposition to what it deems provocative military maneuvers near its borders. “This launch appears to be a show of force designed to send a political message in response to the enhanced security collaboration between Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo,” said an analyst from the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses.
The North’s latest move adds to a series of escalating military actions this year. Just last month, North Korea launched several cruise missiles toward the East Sea, one day after a significant and reportedly “serious” incident occurred during the launch ceremony of a new naval warship. The malfunction during the launch led to the crushing of critical parts of the destroyer, prompting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to denounce the mishap as a “criminal act.”
In response to the May cruise missile launches, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the weapons were fired from the Sondok area in South Hamgyong Province. Though the exact number of missiles was not disclosed, the launches once again heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Unlike ballistic missiles, which are prohibited under United Nations Security Council resolutions, cruise missile launches by North Korea are not always immediately disclosed by South Korea’s military. However, both types of weapons are seen as integral components of Pyongyang’s strategy to strengthen its asymmetric warfare capabilities.
Earlier in May, North Korea had also conducted multiple short-range ballistic missile launches into the East Sea, further intensifying concerns about its rapidly evolving weapons program.
South Korea’s JCS emphasized that the military remains on high alert and is continuously monitoring North Korean military movements. “We are closely watching the situation so that North Korea does not misjudge the current security environment,” the JCS stated, stressing that the South Korean military retains the capability to “overwhelmingly respond” to any further provocations.
The growing frequency of missile and artillery tests by Pyongyang reflects a larger pattern of strategic signaling aimed at the international community. It also comes at a time when diplomatic efforts to resume denuclearization talks remain stalled.
| Also Read: Israel kills top Hezbollah commander as tensions escalate in Lebanon |
The trilateral drills, coupled with Pyongyang’s aggressive military demonstrations, suggest that the security dynamic in Northeast Asia is entering a new phase marked by both increased allied cooperation and heightened North Korean belligerence.
As regional tensions simmer, Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo are expected to continue enhancing their combined defense postures, while urging North Korea to return to the negotiating table. However, analysts caution that without meaningful diplomatic engagement, such cycles of provocation and response are likely to persist.
