N.Korea fires possible missile during US-Korea drills

South Korea and Japan say North Korea fired a missile toward the sea, Tokyo says it may have been a ballistic missile, while the United States and South Korea are conducting military exercises.

The projectile was fired into the sea off North Korea’s east coast on Saturday, South Korea’s military said in a brief message to reporters.

The Japan Coast Guard said the projectile appeared to have fallen into the sea.

The region appears to fall outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported on Saturday, citing defense ministry sources.

Five days ago, Seoul and Washington launched major exercises they say are purely defensive, aimed at testing preparedness against military threats from North Korea.

Nuclear-armed North Korea has frequently expressed its anger and objections to such drills, saying they are a “dress rehearsal” for an allied armed attack against it.

On Thursday, South Korea’s prime minister met with US President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss ways to restart dialogue with North Korea, which has been suspended since 2019.