North Korea Fires Multiple Short-Range Ballistic Missiles into Eastern Waters
North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles from its eastern coastal area of Wonsan on Wednesday morning, the second such firing in as many days, South Korea’s military said.
The missiles were detected around 8:50 a.m. local time and each traveled approximately 240 kilometers before landing in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The test comes hours after Pyongyang dismissed recent South Korean overtures for improved ties. A senior North Korean official ridiculed Seoul’s “hope-filled” interpretations of recent exchanges, reiterating that South Korea remains an “enemy state” whose hostile nature cannot change. The comments followed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s expression of regret over drone incursions, which Pyongyang had briefly welcomed before quickly hardening its stance.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the country maintains a full readiness posture and is prepared to respond in close coordination with its U.S. ally. The military also reported an additional unidentified projectile launch from near Pyongyang the previous day.
This marks North Korea’s fourth confirmed ballistic missile launch of 2026, underscoring persistent tensions on the Korean Peninsula despite intermittent diplomatic signals from Seoul.
The launches violate United Nations Security Council resolutions banning such activities by Pyongyang. No immediate comments were available from North Korean state media or the United States.
