SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile off its east coast on Monday, in response to a new U.S. military drill with South Korea and Japan. The missile launch occurred just a day after North Korea threatened to take aggressive countermeasures against the joint military exercise.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missile was launched from North Korea’s town of Jangyon in the southeastern part of the country at 5:05 a.m. Another unidentified ballistic missile launch trajectory was detected 10 minutes later, possibly indicating two missile launches by North Korea.

In recent years, South Korea, the U.S., and Japan have been working together to strengthen their trilateral security partnership in order to address North Korea’s nuclear threats and China’s growing assertiveness in the region. The recent trilateral drills, named “Freedom Edge,” aimed to enhance joint ballistic-missile defense capabilities, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and other skills through simultaneous air and naval exercises.

North Korea strongly condemned the “Freedom Edge” drill, likening it to an Asian version of NATO. The country accused the U.S. of attempting to encircle China and exert pressure on Russia, stating that it would defend its sovereignty and security through forceful measures.

Monday’s missile launch followed a five-day period without any weapons testing by North Korea. Previously, the country had conducted a missile launch involving multiple warheads, claiming it as a successful test. However, South Korea disputed the North’s assertion, labeling it as a failed launch.

In response to South Korean activists sending political leaflets via balloons, North Korea has been sending balloons carrying trash towards South Korea. This exchange led to South Korea resuming anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts for the first time in years. North Korea-Russia relations have also intensified, with the two countries striking a deal to provide mutual defense assistance if attacked.

Furthermore, North Korea is holding a crucial ruling party meeting to address pressing issues related to strengthening its socialist system. The leader spoke about addressing economic challenges and resolving immediate policy issues during the meeting’s second day, as reported by North Korea’s state media on Sunday.