South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched from an area near the capital Pyongyang toward waters off the country’s east coast. The launches occurred during large-scale allied military drills aimed at strengthening defense readiness against potential threats from the North.

Japan’s coast guard also detected what it said could be a ballistic missile that later fell into the sea. Public broadcaster NHK, citing Japanese military officials, reported the projectile appeared to land outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

The missile activity came as U.S. and South Korean troops conducted major annual exercises across South Korea this week. Officials from both allies say the drills are defensive in nature and designed to test military preparedness in the event of a conflict with North Korea.

On Saturday, hundreds of American and South Korean troops carried out river-crossing exercises involving tanks and armored combat vehicles. The drills were overseen by the commander of their combined forces.

The United States maintains about 28,500 troops in South Korea along with squadrons of fighter jets as part of its longstanding security commitment to the country

North Korea has routinely condemned such military exercises, describing them as rehearsals for an invasion. The country has repeatedly responded to the drills with weapons tests or military demonstrations.

For more than two decades, Pyongyang has tested a wide range of ballistic and cruise missiles as part of its effort to develop systems capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

It is widely believed to have successfully built nuclear devices.The missile and nuclear programs have prompted multiple rounds of sanctions by the United Nations Security Council since 2006, targeting the country’s trade, economy and defense sectors.

The launches came days after South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met Trump in Washington to discuss ways to revive dialogue with North Korea.

Kim told reporters that Trump remains eager to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if an opportunity arises.

The latest missile launches underscore continuing tensions on the Korean Peninsula even as diplomatic channels remain under discussion.

Kim Min-seok told reporters in the United States that Trump raised the possibility of meeting Kim Jong Un during a potential trip to China later this year or at another time, adding that the timing was uncertain but dialogue itself remained important.“Meeting (Kim Jong Un) would be good.

It’s really good to meet,” Kim quoted Trump as saying, noting the U.S. president suggested the encounter could occur during an upcoming visit to China or at a later stage.

Washington has for decades led international efforts to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear weapons program through sanctions, diplomacy and negotiations, though these measures have produced limited results.

The Trump administration has recently pushed to revive high-level engagement with Pyongyang, with officials exploring the possibility of a summit with Kim Jong Un later this year.

Kim Min-seok said he and Trump agreed that a meeting occurring soon, potentially around the time of a visit to Beijing, would carry symbolic significance.“If it happens soon, or around the time of the China visit, that would in itself be meaningful,” Kim said.

He added that the U.S. president appeared firmly committed to maintaining some form of contact with North Korea regardless of when a summit might take place.

Trump has repeatedly indicated willingness to engage directly with Kim Jong Un. During a trip to Asia in October, he said he was “100 percent” open to meeting the North Korean leader, though Pyongyang did not immediately respond to the offer.

More recently, Kim Jong Un suggested the United States and North Korea could “get along” if Washington recognized Pyongyang’s nuclear status, a position that conflicts with long-standing U.S. policy aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

At the same time, North Korea has signaled skepticism toward diplomatic initiatives from Seoul, describing South Korea’s latest peace efforts as a “clumsy, deceptive farce.”

North Korea continues to advance its military capabilities while maintaining close strategic ties with Russia, developments that have raised concerns among the United States and its allies in the region.

Pyongyang has also condemned the recent U.S.-Israeli military strike on Iran, describing it as an “illegal act of aggression,” reflecting broader geopolitical tensions involving Washington and its adversaries.

The possibility of renewed talks between Washington and Pyongyang comes as regional diplomacy remains fragile, with negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear program stalled despite years of international pressure and intermittent dialogue.

Her remarks came as Seoul and Washington proceeded with their annual joint military exercises, which the two allies say are designed to strengthen defensive readiness against potential threats from North Korea.

Kim Yo Jong described the military exercises as provocative and warned they could undermine security in the region. Statements from North Korean officials have frequently portrayed joint U.S.-South Korean military activities as rehearsals for invasion.

The criticism reflects longstanding opposition from Pyongyang to the annual exercises, which typically involve large-scale troop deployments and coordinated operations between the two militaries.

Officials in South Korea and the United States maintain that the drills are defensive in nature and aimed at ensuring readiness and coordination between allied forces.

The exercises form a central component of the long-standing military alliance between the two countries, which maintains a substantial U.S. troop presence on the Korean Peninsula.

Analysts say North Korea’s leadership remains focused on maintaining strong deterrence capabilities amid shifting geopolitical tensions. One analyst said Pyongyang is determined not to face the same fate as Iran amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States and its allies.

The comments come as regional tensions remain elevated amid global security concerns and ongoing military activity across several geopolitical flashpoints.