South Korea's military says North Korea has fired several ballistic missiles into the sea. The launch Monday happened hours after South Korean and U.S. troops kicked off their large annual combined drills,

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles on Monday, hours after condemning the South Korean and U.S. militaries for launching drills that Pyongyang called a "dangerous provocative act" that risked accidentally sparking a confrontation.

North Korea has traditionally called for US-South Korea joint exercises to be called off, branding them as a prelude to invasion. The South Korean military has said the joint drills aim to strengthen the readiness of the alliance for threats such as North Korea.

South Korea and the U.S. paused live-fire training during Freedom Shield exercises after a South Korean fighter jet bombing incident injured 30 civilians. The drill has been criticized by North Korea,

South Korea and the US commenced their annual joint military exercises, halting live-fire drills following a mishap where two South Korean jets accidentally bombed a civilian area. North Korea criticized the exercise as a provocative act that heightens military conflict risks.

South Korea's suspension of some military drills after its fighter jets' accidental bombing of a civilian area may hinder its upcoming annual military training with the United States.

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea fired several ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday, South Korea’s military said, hours after South Korean and U.S. troops kicked off their large annual combined drills, which the North views as an invasion rehearsal.

South Korean and U.S. militaries halted all live-fire exercises across South Korea after South Korean jets mistakenly released bombs on a civilian area.

As a result of the mistaken bombing of a village in South Korea by fighter jets during military exercises, 29 people were injured, including 15 civilians. A tragic incident occurred during joint military maneuvers between the US and South Korea.