South Korea Fires Ballistic Missile in Drill Responding to North Korea

South Korea’s military conducted a live-fire drill, launching a “Hyunmoo-II” short-range ballistic missile towards the Yellow Sea in response to recent North Korean missile tests. The exercise, held in Taean, South Chungcheong, aimed to showcase South Korea’s readiness to counter any provocations from Pyongyang. The Joint Chiefs of Staff emphasized that the South Korean army, closely monitoring North Korea’s activities alongside the U.S., remains prepared for decisive action. This response follows North Korea’s recent Hwasong-19 ICBM test and multiple short-range missile launches, which heightened regional tensions.