In a recent escalation of tensions, North Korea fired suspected short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Friday, according to South Korea's military. This move comes just a day after South Korea and the United States participated in a joint drill involving powerful fighter jets, a move that North Korea perceives as a major security threat.

The missiles, launched from the Wonsan region on North Korea's east coast, traveled approximately 300 kilometers (185 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, as confirmed by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, announced that the missile landed outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone.

South Korea's military stated that these launches are a "clear provocation" that endangers peace on the Korean Peninsula. They further emphasized their firm readiness to repel any potential aggression from North Korea, in coordination with the military alliance with the United States.

This recent missile test adds to North Korea's continued weapons testing, aimed at expanding and modernizing its arsenal. While diplomatic efforts with the United States and South Korea remain at a standstill, North Korea has persistently conducted tests in recent months, including the test firing of a new multiple rocket launch system last week, as reported by the North's state media, under the supervision of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

According to North Korea, its nuclear and missile programs have been bolstered in response to what it perceives as U.S.-led hostilities. The country cites the military training conducted by the United States and South Korea, which it views as an invasion rehearsal, as the reason behind its need to strengthen its military capabilities. Foreign experts suggest that North Korea often utilizes its rivals' military drills as a pretext for increasing its weapons arsenal, in hopes of gaining leverage in future diplomatic negotiations with the United States.

The tension between the two Koreas escalated further on Thursday, when two South Korean F-35As and two U.S. F-22 Raptors participated in a joint aerial exercise over South Korea's central region. These deployments of sophisticated U.S. aircraft are deeply sensitive to North Korea, and the re-deployment of the F-22s for joint training with South Korea was denounced by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The KCNA referred to it as "another clear proof of the hostile nature" of the United States and accused South Korean military officials of intensifying tensions to align with their masters' confrontation strategy against North Korea.

Kim Yo Jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister and a senior official, stated that the recent weapons tests are a part of North Korea's five-year arms buildup plan initiated in 2021. She explicitly mentioned that these weapons are specifically designed to target the South Korean capital, Seoul, refuting any suggestions that they are intended for export to Russia.

As the situation continues to escalate, it remains uncertain what steps North Korea will take in response to the perceived threats posed by the joint military exercises and missile tests. The international community closely monitors the developments on the Korean Peninsula, hoping for a de-escalation of tension and a resumption of diplomatic dialogue.