Archive · 20 Sep 2026
North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Into Sea, Japan Confirms
North Korea launched a missile toward the sea on Sunday.
Japan and South Korea said it appeared to be a ballistic missile.
South Korea said the launch came from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s eastern coast.
Japan said the missile had already fallen into the sea.
NHK reported that it landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
The launch happened after military exercises involving the United States, South Korea, and Japan.
North Korea said those exercises increased tensions and warned it could respond.
North Korea had also rejected a resolution about its nuclear activities.
North Korea launched an apparent ballistic missile from its eastern coast on Sunday, September 20.
South Korea detected the launch from the Wonsan area at about 3 p.m. local time.
Japan said the projectile had fallen into the sea, while NHK reported it landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
The launch followed a recent North Korean missile test and US-led maritime drills involving South Korea and Japan.
North Korea criticized the drills and rejected a UN nuclear watchdog resolution concerning its nuclear program.
- Who
- North Korea launched the missile; Japan and South Korea confirmed or assessed the launch.
- What
- An apparent short-range ballistic missile was fired into the sea.
- When
- Sunday, September 20; South Korea reported the launch at about 3 p.m. local time.
- Where
- The missile was launched from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s eastern coast and fell into the sea east of the Korean Peninsula.
- Why
- No official launch reason was given. The launch followed North Korean criticism of US-led military drills and its rejection of a UN nuclear watchdog resolution.
North Korea’s Position
South Korea and Japan’s Position
Military exercises and regional tensions
North Korea’s Position
North Korea blamed US-led military drills involving South Korea and Japan for worsening tensions and described the exercises as a threat.
South Korea and Japan’s Position
The exercises were conducted by the United States, South Korea, and Japan, while South Korea condemned the subsequent missile launch and urged North Korea to stop its missile activity.
Missile and nuclear activities
North Korea’s Position
North Korea rejected the UN nuclear watchdog’s resolution and said, through Kim Yo Jong, that it would maintain its course of strengthening its nuclear arsenal.
South Korea and Japan’s Position
Japan and South Korea assessed the projectile as an apparent or suspected ballistic missile; South Korea said the launch violated UN Security Council resolutions.
- Launch location
- The Wonsan area on North Korea’s eastern coast.
- South Korean assessment
- The Joint Chiefs of Staff detected an unidentified projectile; another South Korean account identified it as a ballistic missile.
- Japanese assessment
- Japan’s Defense Ministry said the projectile appeared to be a ballistic missile and had already fallen.
- Impact area
- The projectile fell into the sea; NHK said it landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
- Recent military activity
- A US-led naval drill involving South Korea and Japan ran from August 29 to September 10 near Guam.
- North Korean response
- North Korea condemned the drills as a threat and warned of possible countermeasures.
- Nuclear resolution
- Pyongyang rejected a UN nuclear watchdog resolution concerning its nuclear program.
