WorldPosted at: Sep 20 2026 7:44PM


North Korea launches two Missiles off eastern coast

Seoul, Sep 20 (UNI) North Korea fired two suspected short-range ballistic missiles into waters off its eastern coast on Sunday, South Korean and Japanese authorities said, in its second round of missile tests in about a week amid heightened tensions over US-South Korean military activities.
The South Korean Defence Ministry said North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) toward the East Sea on Sunday afternoon. About three hours later, it detected another launch of what appeared to be a short-range ballistic missile.
If the second launch is confirmed as a ballistic missile, it would mark two consecutive ballistic missile tests by North Korea within a three-hour period.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the first launch from the Wonsan area at around 3 p.m. local time. The military identified the projectile as a ballistic missile.
Japan’s Defence Ministry also said the projectile appeared to be a ballistic missile.
Japan's Defence Ministry said at least one ballistic missile was launched from North Korea's east coast at around 3 pm towards the northeast. It estimated that the missile reached a maximum altitude of about 60 km, flew approximately 440 km and fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Sea of Japan.
"Regarding the object that may be a ballistic missile launched from North Korea earlier, its entry into our country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) has not been confirmed at this time," the ministry said.
The ministry said no reports of damage had been received and that the government had provided information to aircraft and vessels operating in the vicinity.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has issued instructions to "devote full efforts to information gathering and analysis, provide prompt and accurate information to the public, thoroughly confirm the safety of aircraft and vessels, and maintain full readiness for any unforeseen incidents."
The Japanese government also convened its response team to coordinate information from relevant ministries and agencies and discuss measures in response to the launch.
Japan's Defence Ministry said it was coordinating closely with the United States and South Korea and would maintain vigilance and surveillance.
"North Korea's series of actions, including the repeated launches of ballistic missiles and other projectiles to date, threaten the peace and security of our country, the region, and the international community," it said.
"Furthermore, such ballistic missile launches violate relevant UN Security Council resolutions and constitute a grave issue concerning the safety of our citizens. Our country has lodged a strong protest and issued a stern condemnation to North Korea."
South Korea's presidential office also urged Pyongyang to immediately halt ballistic missile launches banned under UN Security Council resolutions. It said an emergency National Security Council meeting was held to discuss the launch.
The latest launch comes as North Korea continues a series of weapons tests despite US President Donald Trump's decision last month to scale back a military exercise with South Korea, in what appeared to be an effort to revive diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Kim's sister and senior official Kim Yo Jong had earlier dismissed Trump's move, saying that shortening the drill would not change its "provocative, aggressive nature."
North Korea's military subsequently launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea, apparently following through on a previous threat to respond to the US-South Korean exercise.
On Friday, Kim Yo Jong criticised another recent US-led multilateral maritime exercise in the region, describing it as a "frantic military move" by the United States aimed at prolonging its "hegemony in the Asia-Pacific area."
The "Pacific Vanguard" exercise brought together the United States, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
She said "regular U.S.-led war rehearsals" were the main source of worsening tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.
"Our will to defend our sovereignty will be expressed in clearer action and there will be never ever change in the course of intensifying the nuclear war deterrence," she said.
Earlier this month, North Korea conducted what it described as a joint live-fire drill involving missiles, artillery and drones, a day after the United States, South Korea and Japan concluded a five-day trilateral military exercise that Pyongyang had condemned as a provocation.
North Korea said the drill involved firing different types of weapons simultaneously, apparently aimed at developing the capability to overwhelm South Korean and US air defences.
Kim Jong Un has continued to expand North Korea's nuclear arsenal after his high-stakes diplomacy with Trump collapsed in 2019.
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported that the projectile fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
The latest launches come amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea repeatedly objecting to joint military activities involving the United States and South Korea.UNI AAB
Tags: #North Korea launches two Missiles off eastern coast
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