Fri Mar 21 02:30:53 UTC 2025: ## North Korea Tests Anti-Aircraft Missiles, Threatens US and South Korea
**Seoul, South Korea –** North Korea announced Friday it successfully test-launched new anti-aircraft missiles, escalating tensions with the United States and South Korea following joint military drills. The launch, overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, marks the country’s sixth weapons test this year. State media described the missiles as a “major defense weapons system.”
The tests coincided with the conclusion of the 11-day Freedom Shield command post exercise, the largest joint US-South Korean military drills since President Donald Trump’s inauguration. While the allies characterize the exercises as defensive, North Korea views them as a grave threat and an invasion rehearsal. The North Korean Defense Ministry accused the drills of simulating the destruction of its underground nuclear facilities, issuing a stark warning of unspecified “gravest consequences” for further provocative actions.
This latest provocation follows the launch of several ballistic missiles by North Korea earlier this month, shortly after the commencement of Freedom Shield. Despite President Trump’s stated willingness to engage with Kim Jong Un to restart diplomacy, North Korea has yet to respond publicly. Experts suggest Kim’s current focus on supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine may delay any response, but the prospect of renewed talks after the war’s conclusion remains possible. Previous attempts at diplomacy between Kim and Trump, including three summits in 2018-19, ultimately failed due to disagreements over US-led sanctions.
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