Monday, September 21, 2026 - North Korea has launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea, according to South Korea’s military, in the latest escalation of weapons testing on the Korean Peninsula.
The missiles were fired from the Wonsan area roughly three hours apart on September 20, with the first travelling about 450 kilometres and the second more than 600 kilometres before landing in waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. The launches have drawn renewed concern from South Korea, Japan and the United States.
The tests came days after North Korean officials accused Washington and its allies of increasing military pressure and vowed to respond to what Pyongyang describes as US “hostilities.”
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, has warned that North Korea could take stronger measures in response to US-led military activities in the region. Pyongyang has also continued to insist that its nuclear capabilities are essential to its security, rejecting international calls for denuclearisation.
The latest launches are adding pressure to already strained relations as South Korea, the United States and Japan consult over their response. South Korean officials have condemned the tests and said they violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.
North Korea’s state media had not immediately reported the launches, while Seoul maintained heightened surveillance and military readiness amid concerns about further weapons tests.
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