North Korea: Pyongyang launches ballistic missile toward Sea of Japan March 19

Event

North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile off its eastern coast into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on the morning of March 19, according to reports from the South Korean military. Details on the flight path and distance were not immediately available, but reports indicate that the missile fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Context

The March 19 missile launch comes amid the ongoing joint US-South Korean military exercises named "Freedom Shield." Pyongyang has denounced the military drills as "preparations for a war of aggression" against its forces. Additional missile launches remain possible in the coming weeks.

Despite attempts at jumpstarting diplomacy, the geopolitical dynamics on the Korean Peninsula remain largely unaltered, as North Korea has previously stated that it will only give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for concrete moves to reduce perceived US threats against it. North Korean leaders have previously warned of stronger actions in response to US sanctions. However, both sides will likely avoid any actions that could escalate into a full-scale conflict.