North Korea Launches Short-Range Ballistic Missile
South Korea reports the missile was fired toward the sea in the latest in a series of weapons displays.
North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile toward the sea on Sunday, South Korea's government announced. The launch marks the latest in a recent series of weapons displays by the isolated nation.
South Korea's presidential office stated that the missile was fired from the country's eastern coastal Wonsan area. In response, Seoul convened an emergency meeting of its national security council to discuss the development.
The launch occurred as North Korea has been conducting a series of weapons tests, even after U.S. President Donald Trump recently scaled back a military exercise with South Korea. This move was seen as an apparent effort to revive diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Earlier this month, North Korea announced it had conducted a joint live-fire drill involving missiles, artillery, and drones. The regime claimed the drill demonstrated "huge destructive power" and included the simultaneous firing of different weapon types, which analysts suggest was intended to test the ability to overwhelm South Korean and U.S. air defenses.
This followed a five-day trilateral military drill involving the United States, South Korea, and Japan, which concluded shortly before the Sept. 12 tests. North Korea has historically viewed such joint military exercises as provocations.
Kim Jong Un has been prioritizing the expansion of his nuclear arsenal since his high-stakes diplomacy with President Trump collapsed in 2019. Last month, Trump directed the Pentagon to "substantially reduce" the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise with South Korea, citing his perceived good relationship with Kim. North Korea, however, has consistently referred to these drills as invasion rehearsals.
Despite Trump's overture, Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un's sister and a senior North Korean official, dismissed the reduction in military exercises, stating it would not alter their "provocative, aggressive nature." Following this, North Korea's military launched approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea, seemingly fulfilling a prior threat to retaliate against the U.S.-South Korean drills.