North Korea Detected Launching Ballistic Missiles Again
North Korea was detected launching a number of ballistic missiles from its territory on Saturday (12/09) local time. This missile launch activity was detected just one day after South Korea completed a five-day joint maritime exercise with the United States and Japan.
Last month, Pyongyang condemned the plans for the “Freedom Edge” joint exercise held in international waters off the coast of South Korea. North Korea described such joint exercises as a “threat.”
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), as reported by AFP on Saturday (10/09/2026), reported that they detected “a number of short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Wonsan area towards the East Sea” — also known as the Sea of Japan.
The JCS stated that the North Korean missiles were detected being launched at 05:20 local time and travelled a distance of 250 kilometres.
The JCS added that South Korean and US intelligence authorities “have been monitoring and sharing information regarding recent developments since the early stages of the launch, and have also shared information regarding the missiles with Japan.”
North Korea last conducted missile launches on 20 August, which landed in the sea and were claimed to be missile tests. Pyongyang continues its missile launch activities despite an offer from US President Donald Trump, who expressed plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year.
These missile launches by North Korea are occurring while South Korea and the US conduct a shorter version of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises, following Trump’s order to reduce the scale of the drills.
Trump’s order has caused concern among US allies in the region, as the US President described the joint exercises as “inappropriate and hostile” towards North Korea.
However, Seoul’s intelligence agency revealed to members of parliament earlier this month that a summit between the US and North Korea appears possible “at any time,” as signs of dialogue between the two nations emerge.
Trump met Kim Jong Un three times during his first term. He even stated that they “fell in love” with each other. However, the summits aimed at reaching a denuclearisation agreement did not result in any final deal.