North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Wednesday, according to South Korean military officials, days after trilateral military exercises concluded involving the United States, South Korea, and Japan. The launches, which originated from the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, marked Pyongyang’s first missile tests in three weeks and appeared to be a response to the recent joint drills that North Korea had condemned as provocative.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the missiles each traveled approximately 250 kilometers over the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. The launches came amid ongoing tensions following US President Donald Trump’s announcement last month to scale back a major annual military exercise with South Korea, a move intended as a goodwill gesture toward North Korea.

The South Korean military said it has heightened its surveillance and was closely coordinating intelligence with the United States and Japan in response to the missile activity. Although the missile firings did not pose a direct threat to neighboring countries, they underscored Pyongyang’s continued focus on weapons development despite diplomatic overtures.

While the exercises wrapped up on Tuesday, North Korea repeatedly criticized the joint drills as rehearsals for invasion, often using them as justification for its missile and nuclear weapons demonstrations. The recent flare-up highlights the fragile security environment in the region, where military maneuvers and weapons tests frequently trigger mutual recriminations. The United States and its allies have emphasized the importance of maintaining readiness amid North Korea’s persistent missile tests, while also expressing willingness to continue dialogue for denuclearization efforts.