Archive · 12 Sep 2026
North Korea Launches Ballistic Missiles After Trilateral Freedom Edge Drills
North Korea fired several short-range missiles toward the sea, according to South Korea.
The missiles were launched near Wonsan and traveled about 250 kilometers.
This happened one day after the United States, South Korea and Japan finished military exercises.
North Korea says these exercises are provocative and resemble practice for an invasion.
South Korea and its partners say the exercises are defensive and help them respond to North Korea’s nuclear threats.
The three countries shared information while watching the missile launches.
The United States said the launches did not immediately threaten its territory or its allies.
North Korea had warned that it might respond to the drills.
The launch happened while officials were also discussing whether future talks between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un might be possible.
South Korea said North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea on Saturday.
The missiles were detected at about 5:20 a.m. and flew roughly 250 kilometers each before landing in the sea.
The launches came one day after the United States, South Korea and Japan completed five-day Freedom Edge maritime drills.
The three countries exchanged intelligence while monitoring the launches; the United States said they posed no immediate threat to its territory or allies.
North Korea called the exercises provocative, while South Korea described them as defensive and said the launches violated U.N. Security Council resolutions.
- Who
- North Korea launched the missiles, according to South Korea; the United States, South Korea and Japan conducted and monitored the related drills.
- What
- Multiple short-range ballistic missiles were fired toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.
- When
- The missiles were detected at about 5:20 a.m. Saturday, one day after the five-day Freedom Edge exercise ended.
- Where
- The missiles were launched from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s eastern coast and flew toward its eastern waters.
- Why
- North Korea has described the allied exercises as provocative and invasion rehearsals; South Korea and its partners say the drills are defensive.
North Korean Position
South Korean and Allied Position
Purpose of the military drills
North Korean Position
North Korea says the United States-South Korea-Japan exercises are provocative, aggressive and resemble rehearsals for an invasion.
South Korean and Allied Position
South Korea and the United States say the exercises are defensive and improve joint responses to North Korean nuclear threats; the drills included maritime, air, cyber and medical activities.
Response to the missile launches
North Korean Position
North Korea’s defense minister threatened strong countermeasures against what he called a provocative trilateral exercise.
South Korean and Allied Position
South Korea urged North Korea to stop ballistic-missile launches, saying they violate U.N. Security Council resolutions, while the United States said there was no immediate threat.
Prospects for diplomacy
North Korean Position
Kim Jong Un has said talks could resume if the United States ends its hostile policy and accepts North Korea’s claimed status as a nuclear state.
South Korean and Allied Position
Donald Trump has said he wants to meet Kim Jong Un again, and South Korean intelligence officials said another summit appeared possible, although earlier meetings produced no tangible denuclearization progress.
- Missile type
- Multiple short-range ballistic missiles
- Launch area
- Wonsan area, North Korea
- Flight distance
- About 250 kilometers (155 miles) per missile
- Detection time
- Approximately 5:20 a.m. Saturday
- Related exercise
- Five-day Freedom Edge drills involving the United States, South Korea and Japan
- Allied response
- The countries increased surveillance and exchanged information about the launches
- United States assessment
- The launches posed no immediate threat to U.S. territory or its allies
Sources
North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles After Rivals’ Drill It Calls Provocative
North Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS
North Korea launches ballistic missiles after US, South Korea, Japan drills.
