North Korea launched about ten short‑range ballistic missiles into the sea after President Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction of the 11‑day Ulchi Freedom Shield joint drills with South Korea. The launch followed the drills’ shortening from 11 to five days, a move intended to signal a thaw in U.S.–North Korea relations.
The missiles were fired from the Pyongyang region toward eastern waters on Thursday, the day after the drills began on August 17. South Korean and U.S. forces increased surveillance and coordinated with Japan, while Kim Yo‑Jong dismissed Trump’s overture, saying the drills remain provocative despite the reduced scale.
The cut in drills has raised concerns about the allies’ joint defense posture, even as the U.S. and South Korea claim essential readiness is preserved. North Korea’s launch signals it will not alter its stance, and Kim Yo‑Jong’s statement that the exercises remain aggressive underscores the continued tension in the region.
Sources differ on the missile count, with one report citing about ten launches while another refers to an unspecified barrage. Timing also varies: one account places the launch on Thursday, the day after the drills began, whereas another notes it occurred on Wednesday, the first day of the shortened exercise.