North Korea launched suspected short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Friday, according to South Korea’s military. This comes just a day after the United States and South Korea conducted a joint drill with fighter jets, which North Korea considers a serious security threat.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the missiles were fired from North Korea’s east coast Wonsan region around 3:10 p.m., but did not disclose how far they traveled. South Korea has increased surveillance and remains on high alert.

In recent months, North Korea has been conducting frequent weapons tests as part of its efforts to expand and modernize its arsenal. This has happened amid stalled diplomacy with the United States and South Korea. Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test firing of a new multiple rocket launch system.

North Korea justifies its actions by citing U.S.-led hostilities, particularly mentioning joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea, which it views as rehearsals for an invasion. Experts believe North Korea uses these drills as an excuse to enhance its weapons capabilities, aiming to strengthen its position in future negotiations with the U.S.

On the same day as the missile tests, Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister and a senior North Korean official, denied allegations that North Korea has exported weapons to Russia. She called such claims "the most absurd paradox," emphasizing that recent tests were part of North Korea’s five-year plan to bolster its military capabilities, specifically targeting Seoul, South Korea's capital.

In response, South Korea’s Unification Ministry declared readiness to counter any threats from North Korea, in cooperation with its U.S. allies. The ministry’s spokesperson also condemned any illicit arms dealings between North Korea and Russia, urging immediate cessation.

The latest missile launch underscores the persistent tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea continuing its weapons development despite international sanctions and diplomatic efforts to curb its nuclear ambitions. The United Nations Security Council has repeatedly condemned North Korea's missile launches and nuclear tests, calling them violations of resolutions that bar

Pyongyang from developing ballistic missile technology. The international community, including the United States and South Korea, remains committed to denuclearization talks, but North Korea's recent actions have complicated efforts to resume negotiations.

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