Archive · 12 Sep 2026
North Korea Fires Unidentified Projectile Toward Sea of Japan
North Korea fired something unidentified toward the Sea of Japan on Saturday.
South Korea detected the launch but did not say exactly what was fired.
North Korea had also launched more than 10 short-range missiles on August 20.
That earlier launch happened while South Korea and the United States were holding military exercises.
North Korea says these exercises could be preparations for an invasion.
The exercises had been shortened after an order from US President Donald Trump.
Trump said he wanted to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year.
North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong criticized South Korea and its relationship with the United States.
South Korea said North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the Sea of Japan on Saturday.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the launch but released no further details.
The launch came after North Korea fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles on August 20.
Those earlier launches followed President Donald Trump’s announcement that he hoped to meet Kim Jong Un this year.
North Korea regularly condemns United States-South Korea military exercises, calling them invasion rehearsals.
- Who
- North Korea launched the unidentified projectile; South Korea’s military reported the launch.
- What
- An unidentified projectile was fired toward the Sea of Japan, also called the East Sea in Korea.
- When
- Saturday; the articles also reference earlier launches on August 20 and remarks made on August 19.
- Where
- Toward the Sea of Japan from North Korea; the earlier missile launches came from the Pyongyang area.
- Why
- North Korea has long condemned United States-South Korea military exercises, which it describes as invasion rehearsals; the articles do not confirm a specific motive for this launch.
South Korea and United States
North Korea
Military exercises
South Korea and United States
South Korea and the United States held a shortened version of their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises.
North Korea
North Korea condemns the joint exercises as rehearsals for invasion.
South Korea’s alliance
South Korea and United States
The United States maintains a military relationship with South Korea, including joint exercises.
North Korea
Kim Yo Jong criticized what she called South Korea’s “master-and-servant” relationship with the United States.
Diplomatic engagement
South Korea and United States
Donald Trump said it was important to get along with Kim Jong Un and planned to meet him this year.
North Korea
North Korea continued launching projectiles and missiles despite Trump’s stated intention to revive ties with Kim.
- Launch status
- South Korea detected an unidentified projectile but provided no details about it.
- Target direction
- The projectile was fired toward the Sea of Japan, known in Korea as the East Sea.
- Earlier launches
- North Korea fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles on August 20.
- Military exercises
- South Korea and the United States were conducting a shortened version of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises.
- Planned meeting
- Donald Trump said on August 19 that he planned to meet Kim Jong Un this year.
- Nuclear weapons estimates
- Trump said North Korea had 57 nuclear weapons, while South Korea estimated 80-120.