Archive · 21 Sep 2026
South Korea, US and Japan Consult After North Korean Launches
North Korea fired two short-range missiles toward the East Sea on Sunday.
South Korea, the United States and Japan spoke by phone on Monday about what happened.
Their diplomats shared information and discussed how to respond.
South Korea said the launches were North Korea’s 14th ballistic missile launch this year.
The launches happened during regional military activities, including a multinational exercise.
Analysts said the tests may also have been a message to other countries.
North Korea has continued testing missiles even though Donald Trump has shown interest in talking with Kim Jong-un.
North Korean state media had not yet reported the launches on Monday morning.
South Korean, United States and Japanese diplomats held telephone consultations Monday after North Korea launched two ballistic missiles.
The missiles were short-range weapons fired toward the East Sea on Sunday, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The launches were North Korea’s 14th ballistic missile launch of the year and its first in eight days.
The three officials exchanged information and discussed possible future responses to the launches.
The tests may have responded to regional military activities and signaled continued efforts to strengthen North Korea’s military capabilities.
- Who
- Senior officials from South Korea, the United States and Japan consulted after North Korea’s launches.
- What
- The diplomats shared information and discussed responses to two short-range ballistic missile launches.
- When
- The missiles were launched Sunday, and the consultations took place Monday; the launches came before a United Nations General Assembly session beginning Tuesday and a Donald Trump–Xi Jinping summit scheduled for Thursday.
- Where
- The missiles were fired toward the East Sea; the consultations were held by telephone.
- Why
- The officials met to coordinate information and possible responses after the launches, which may have been linked to regional military activities and North Korea’s efforts to strengthen its capabilities.
- Missiles launched
- Two short-range ballistic missiles
- Launch direction
- Toward the East Sea
- Launch day
- Sunday
- Annual total
- The 14th ballistic missile launch by North Korea this year
- Previous launch gap
- The first launch in eight days
- Consultation day
- Monday
- Countries involved
- South Korea, the United States and Japan