North Korea launched approximately ten ballistic missiles toward the eastern sea on Saturday, coinciding with the ongoing US-South Korea “Freedom Shield” military exercise, South Korean officials said. The computer-simulated command post drill, scheduled to run until March 19, appears to have prompted the North’s latest show of force.
State media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observed the live-fire exercise alongside his teenage daughter. The drill involved twelve 600mm-calibre multiple rocket launch systems (MLRS) off the country’s east coast. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim described the exercise as a demonstration to expose potential adversaries within the system’s 420-kilometre striking range and to highlight the destructive power of North Korea’s tactical nuclear capabilities.
“If this weapon is used, the opponent’s military infrastructure within its striking range can never survive,” KCNA cited Kim as saying.
The system tested, known internationally as the KN-25, blurs the line between traditional artillery and ballistic missiles. Measuring eight metres long, three tonnes in weight, and capable of delivering conventional warheads of 300 to 500 kilograms or a Hwasan-31 nuclear payload, the MLRS can strike targets across almost the entire South Korean peninsula from northern launch positions. Experts note that the system is guided during flight and follows a controlled ballistic trajectory, giving it both range and precision, with official accuracy figures estimating an 80-90 metre margin of error over distances exceeding 360 kilometres.
In February, North Korea formally handed over 50 new five-tube launchers to its military, marking a significant expansion of the KN-25 fleet. Pyongyang has emphasized that the weapons programme is intended to maintain deterrence and secure national defense, rather than for offensive aggression. Kim described the exercise as routine, announcing that such drills will be conducted regularly.
South Korea’s national security council condemned the missile launches as a clear provocation and a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions banning North Korean ballistic activities. Analysts say the timing of the strikes aligns closely with the schedule of the Freedom Shield exercise, suggesting that North Korea is using the test both as a deterrent and as a demonstration of capability.
“The launch pattern is closely synchronised with the schedule of the joint drills,” said Hong Min, senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification. “This indicates the weapons system is being operated as a means of nuclear deterrence and practical demonstration against the alliance.”
The launch marks the latest in a series of provocative actions by Pyongyang amid heightened regional tensions. As the Korean Peninsula faces renewed security challenges, officials in Seoul and Washington continue to monitor North Korea’s missile development closely while maintaining their joint military readiness.
