North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of US-South drills

Seoul's military reported that North Korea launched a ballistic missile from its east coast towards Japan early Wednesday, just days before the US-South Korea joint drills begin. The 11-day exercises, scheduled to start on Monday, are a standard part of the summer calendar aimed at preparing the United States and South Korea for defense against North Korea, which they view as rehearsals for an invasion. North Korea has a history of launching missiles before and after the drills, viewing them as potential threats.

The missile traveled over 700 kilometers (435 miles) over the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, before falling, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff. Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi called the launch a "threat to peace and security in our region" and lodged a strong protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing.

North Korea has increasingly criticized Japan, a former colonial power, over its growing military spending and increased defense pacts. Recently, Pyongyang has also been backing Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, providing financial and military support. In response, Ukraine accused Russia of launching North Korean missiles in an attack that killed 10 and wounded dozens, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not provide evidence.

North Korea has received benefits from Russia in return for its support, including gaining experience from modern battlefields. The upcoming US-South Korea drills, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, will involve 18,000 South Korean troops and 28,500 US personnel, preparing them for a potential fight against North Korean troops who have learned from their experiences in Europe.