North Korea launched a ballistic missile off its east coast on Monday morning, according to South Korea’s military. This action followed North Korea’s vow to take “offensive and overwhelming countermeasures” against a recent US-South Korea-Japan military drill called “Freedom Edge.” The drill, involving extensive military assets, ended two days prior and was seen by North Korea as a provocation aimed at increasing regional tensions. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry condemned the exercise, likening it to an Asian version of NATO. This missile launch is North Korea’s first in five days, amid ongoing tensions and recent provocations involving balloons sent across the Korean border.