Archive · 20 Aug 2026
North Korea Fires Missiles as Trump Seeks Kim Talks
North Korea fired about 10 missiles into the sea.
South Korea said the missiles were launched from the area around North Korea’s capital.
The launches happened while Donald Trump is trying to restart talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Trump said he expects to meet Kim later this year.
Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, said she did not know about any recent message from Kim to Trump.
She also said the relationship between the two leaders was still excellent.
The United States and South Korea shortened their military exercises, but North Korea still called them threatening.
Officials also disagree about how many nuclear weapons North Korea has.
The exact number is not publicly known.
North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward eastern waters on Thursday, South Korea’s military said.
The launches followed Pyongyang’s rejection of scaled-back United States–South Korea military exercises as a meaningful goodwill gesture.
Donald Trump said he expects to meet Kim Jong Un later this year, but Kim Yo Jong said she knew of no recent communication between them.
South Korea estimated North Korea possesses 80–120 nuclear warheads, while Trump cited 57 weapons; neither figure is officially confirmed.
South Korea, the United States and Japan strengthened monitoring, while Seoul urged North Korea to stop launches prohibited by United Nations Security Council resolutions.
- Who
- North Korea, Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un, Kim Yo Jong, South Korea, the United States and Japan.
- What
- North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles as the Trump administration sought renewed engagement with Pyongyang.
- When
- The launches occurred on Thursday; the articles identify related statements and developments as occurring on August 19–20, 2026.
- Where
- The missiles were launched from North Korea’s capital region toward its eastern waters.
- Why
- The launches added tension amid efforts to revive Trump–Kim diplomacy and followed Pyongyang’s criticism of scaled-back United States–South Korea military drills.
Diplomatic Engagement
Pressure and Skepticism
Scaled-back military exercises
Diplomatic Engagement
The United States and South Korea reduced the duration and scope of their exercises to help create conditions for renewed talks with North Korea.
Pressure and Skepticism
North Korea said the drills remained provocative and aggressive despite the reductions, while Washington and Seoul maintained that they were defensive and needed for military readiness.
Prospects for a Trump–Kim meeting
Diplomatic Engagement
Trump said he plans to meet Kim Jong Un later this year, and Kim Yo Jong’s description of their relationship as excellent left some room for diplomacy.
Pressure and Skepticism
Kim Yo Jong said she was unaware of recent communication between Trump and Kim, and the missile launches and rejection of the drills suggested that a new summit may not be imminent.
Size of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal
Diplomatic Engagement
Trump cited a specific estimate of 57 nuclear weapons.
Pressure and Skepticism
South Korea’s defence minister cited a higher estimate of 80–120 warheads, while acknowledging that it came from private research organizations and could not be officially confirmed.
- Missile launches
- About 10 short-range ballistic missiles were fired toward the sea.
- Launch time
- South Korea said the launches occurred at around 5 p.m. local time.
- Trump’s nuclear estimate
- Donald Trump cited 57 North Korean nuclear weapons.
- South Korean estimate
- South Korea’s defence minister cited an estimated range of 80–120 warheads based on private research organizations.
- Military exercise change
- The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise was shortened from 11 days to five, with some field training reduced or replaced by simulations.
- Diplomatic claim
- Trump said he expects to meet Kim Jong Un later this year and had received a response from him.
- North Korean response
- Kim Yo Jong said she knew nothing about recent communication but described the relationship between Trump and Kim as excellent.