North Korea fires missiles toward sea

North Korea launched approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Thursday, August 20, 2026, according to South Korea's military, marking a significant provocation just one day after Pyongyang dismissed a U.S. decision to scale back joint military exercises. The launches occurred from the region around North Korea's capital at approximately 5 p.m. local time, with the projectiles flying toward the country's eastern waters.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the detection of multiple launches and stated that its military had bolstered surveillance and was coordinating closely with the United States and Japan. Japan's government also detected a suspected ballistic missile launch, with its coast guard issuing alerts to vessels before confirming the projectile had fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. In response, South Korea's presidential national security council convened an emergency meeting and issued a statement urging North Korea to cease missile tests that violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The missile tests occurred as the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises between the United States and South Korea were...