N. Korea fired short-range ballistic missile, says South Korea
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A rocket launcher firing a munition during tests overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in North Korea on June 25.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- North Korea fired an unidentified projectile east of the Korean Peninsula on August 6, according to South Korea’s military.
- Japan’s government suggested the projectile could be a ballistic missile.
- This launch follows multiple 2026 tests of various weapons, including ballistic missiles and upgraded rocket systems, to strengthen North Korea’s military.
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SEOUL – North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile on Aug 6 towards the sea off the peninsula’s eastern coast, South Korea’s military said, the first such launch in more than 40 days after a series of weapons tests earlier in 2026.
The launch comes ahead of joint South Korean-US military drills expected in August.
Washington and Seoul say the exercises strengthen their defence capabilities and deterrence against North Korean nuclear and missile threats. Pyongyang regularly denounces them as preparations for an invasion.
The South Korean military said it detected the missile launched from North Korea’s eastern coastal Wonsan area at around 5pm (4pm, Singapore time).
South Korea’s presidential office said it held an emergency security meeting, and condemned the launch as a provocative act that violates United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The US military in a statement said it was aware of the missile launch and was consulting closely with partners.
“Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or to our allies. The United States remains committed to the defence of the US homeland and our allies in the region,” the US Pacific Command said in a statement.
The missile test could be related to recent criticism by Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, over Japan’s firing of Tomahawk missiles, said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies.
North Korea has launched a series of tests in 2026, including tests of short-range ballistic missiles, artillery rockets and other tactical weapons.
The most recent confirmed weapons test, in late June, involved an upgraded 240mm multiple-launch rocket system, tactical ballistic missiles and a 155mm self-propelled howitzer, North Korean state media KCNA said.
The South Korean military said it heightened its alert for further firings, and was sharing information with the United States and Japan.
Japan’s government also said on Aug 6 that Pyongyang launched what could be a ballistic missile.
Tokyo lodged a stern protest with Pyongyang over the latest missile test, the ministry said, calling it a threat to the peace and security of Japan, the region and the international community, and a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. REUTERS
