• North Korea fired around 10 ballistic missiles towards the East Sea on Saturday.
• The launch occurred during joint US-South Korea military exercises.
• Missiles reportedly fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.
• South Korea and Japan have heightened surveillance following the launches.

North Korea fired around 10 ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Saturday, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The missiles were launched from the Sunan area in North Korea at approximately 1:20 PM local time, coinciding with ongoing military drills conducted by the US and South Korea, dubbed "Freedom Shield," which have prompted North Korean ire. This exercise is designed to test military readiness against potential threats from the North, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The Japanese Defense Ministry confirmed the detection of the missiles, stating that they appeared to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has instructed her government to ensure maritime and aviation safety in response to the launches. There were no immediate reports of damage within Japan, India Times detailed.

Additionally, South Korean officials noted that North Korea’s missile launches are often a response to joint military activities by the US and South Korea, which Pyongyang perceives as provocations. Historically, North Korea has labeled these military exercises as "dress rehearsals" for an impending invasion, as reaffirmed by Dawn and AA.