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.

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 has fired several ballistic missiles as South Korea and the United States initiated military drills. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Monday that North Korea’s fifth launch event this year fired several missiles off the west coast into the sea.

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.

North Korea threatened Friday that South Korea and the United States will pay a "horrible price" for their joint military exercise slated for next week, saying the drills will soon bring a "storm" that deteriorates the situation on the Peninsula.

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.

The South Korean military said the accident near the North Korean border occurred during training ahead of Freedom Shield, an annual U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise.

South Korea’s military says it has suspended the training flights of air force aircraft and all live-fire drills after two fighter jets accidentally bombed a civilian area

North Korea criticised on Friday annual joint military drills planned by the United States and South Korea, saying it will worsen the situation on the Korean Peninsula, state media KCNA said. Annual South Korean and U.

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.