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North Korea fires possible missile towards sea during US-South Korea drills
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 14, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 14, 2026
Quick Summary
North Korea on March 14 launched an unidentified projectile toward the sea off its east coast amid the US–South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills, raising regional tensions. Both Seoul and Tokyo noted it may have been a missile, though details remain sparse.
North Korea fires 10 ballistic missiles during US-South Korea military drills
North Korea's Missile Launch Amid US-South Korea Military Exercises
By Daewoung Kim and Anton Bridge
Details of the Missile Launch
YEONCHEON, South Korea/TOKYO, March 14 (Reuters) - North Korea fired more than 10 ballistic missiles into the sea on Saturday, South Korea's military said, as the U.S. and South Korean forces conducted military drills and U.S. President Donald Trump renewed overtures towards Pyongyang for dialogue.
Japan's Response and Observations
Japan's coast guard said it had detected what could be a ballistic missile that fell into the sea. It appeared to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, public broadcaster NHK said, citing the military.
Launch Location and Timing
The missiles were launched from an area near the capital Pyongyang, around 1:20 p.m. (0430 GMT) towards the sea off the country's east coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
Background on North Korea's Missile Program
North Korea has test-launched a wide range of ballistic and cruise missiles for more than two decades in a push to develop the means to deliver nuclear weapons, which it is believed to have successfully built.
International Sanctions and Defiance
As a result, Pyongyang has been under multiple U.N. Security Council sanctions since 2006 but it remains defiant, despite severe obstacles they created to its trade, economy and defence.
US-South Korea Military Drills
South Korea and Washington this week launched the annual major drills in South Korea, which they say are purely defensive, aimed at testing readiness against military threats from North Korea.
Details of the Drills
Hundreds of U.S. and South Korean troops conducted river-crossing drills on Saturday with hardware including tanks and armoured combat vehicles, overseen by the commander of their combined forces. The U.S. military has about 28,500 troops and squadrons of fighter jets stationed in South Korea.
North Korea's Reaction to the Exercises
North Korea frequently displays its anger at such exercises, saying they are "dress rehearsals" for armed aggression against it by the allies.
Diplomatic Efforts and Dialogue
Recent Talks Between US and South Korea
On Thursday, South Korea's Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss ways to reopen dialogue with the North. Trump is eager for any opportunity to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, South Korea's Kim told reporters.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Jack Kim, Sebin Choi, Heejin Kim in Seoul, Daewoung Kim in Yeoncheon, South Korea, Anton Bridge in Tokyo; Editing by William Mallard)
Key Takeaways
- •The projectile launch coincided with the start of the 10‑day Freedom Shield exercises, viewed by Pyongyang as provocative; Washington and Seoul describe them as defensive (apnews.com).
- •Tokyo suggested the projectile may have been a ballistic missile falling outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone; South Korea provided limited details beyond its trajectory (apnews.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about North Korea fires possible missile towards sea during US-South Korea drills
1What did North Korea fire towards the sea?
North Korea fired a projectile, possibly a ballistic missile, towards the sea off its east coast.
2When did the US-South Korea military drills start?
The US and South Korea launched the major drills five days before the reported missile launch.
