Seoul, LOGIC.co.id - North Korea jolted East Asia once again by launching two short-range ballistic missiles into the Yellow Sea on Monday, March 10, 2025, just hours after South Korea and the United States began their annual Freedom Shield military exercises. The launches prompted swift reactions from Seoul and Tokyo, which heightened alertness and reinforced defense coordination with their U.S. ally.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles were fired from Hwanghae Province around 1:50 p.m. Seoul time, landing in waters west of the Korean Peninsula with a range of approximately 250-300 kilometers. “This is a provocative act violating UN resolutions,” a South Korean military spokesperson stated. The launches coincided with the Freedom Shield drills, which involve thousands of South Korean and U.S. troops to bolster readiness against Pyongyang’s threats.
North Korea, via its state-run KCNA outlet, denounced the exercises as a “serious threat” that could lead to “direct military confrontation.” Meanwhile, Japan confirmed the missiles did not enter its territory, but Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stressed that Tokyo would work closely with Seoul and Washington to monitor Pyongyang’s actions.
The United States condemned the launches as a “violation of international law” and called for firm action at the UN Security Council. China, North Korea’s key ally, urged all parties to “exercise restraint” to avoid further escalation. In Seoul, residents remained calm yet uneasy. “We’re used to this, but it’s still unsettling,” said Kim Soo-jin, a vendor at Gwangjang Market.
The Freedom Shield exercises, running from March 10 to March 20, include air defense simulations and naval operations with U.S. assets like an aircraft carrier. The strengthened coordination between South Korea and Japan in tracking this threat underscores growing solidarity. The world now waits to see if Pyongyang will escalate further or step back.