Archive · 20 Aug 2026
North Korea Fires Missiles, Mocks Seoul After Trump Scales Drills
North Korea launched more than 10 missiles toward the sea near South Korea.
South Korea said the missiles flew about 300 kilometers.
The launches happened while South Korea and the United States were holding military exercises.
Those exercises were shortened after a suggestion from the United States.
North Korea often says these exercises are practice for an invasion.
Kim Yo Jong criticized South Korea and called its relationship with the United States unequal.
Donald Trump said he hopes to meet Kim Jong Un later this year.
South Korea increased its military readiness and said the launches violated United Nations resolutions.
North Korea fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, South Korea said.
The missiles traveled about 300 kilometers after launching from the Pyongyang area around 5 p.m. local time.
The launches followed the shortened Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which South Korea said ended early at the United States’ suggestion.
Kim Yo Jong called South Korea a United States “servant” and criticized President Lee Jae Myung’s defense and diplomacy policies.
Donald Trump said he plans to meet Kim Jong Un later this year and described their relationship as important.
- Who
- North Korea, South Korea, the United States, Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un, and Kim Yo Jong were central to the developments.
- What
- North Korea launched more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles while criticizing South Korea and the United States after their military exercises were shortened.
- When
- The launches occurred on Thursday at about 5 p.m. local time, hours after Trump discussed a possible meeting with Kim Jong Un.
- Where
- The missiles were launched from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea.
- Why
- North Korea opposes the United States-South Korea military exercises, which it describes as invasion rehearsals; the exercises are intended to prepare for a possible North Korean attack.
North Korea’s Position
South Korea-U.S. Position
Military exercises
North Korea’s Position
North Korea says the United States-South Korea exercises are invasion rehearsals and criticized Seoul’s reliance on Washington.
South Korea-U.S. Position
South Korea and the United States say the exercises prepare for a possible attack by North Korea; South Korea supported heightened readiness after the launches.
Security relationship
North Korea’s Position
Kim Yo Jong described South Korea as having a master-and-servant relationship with the United States and said U.S. military support was no longer free of charge.
South Korea-U.S. Position
President Lee Jae Myung said he would support Trump’s peacemaking efforts while pursuing independent national defense, and South Korea continues to rely on the alliance for defense.
Denuclearization and engagement
North Korea’s Position
North Korea indicated that its nuclear status should be treated as a reality, while Kim Yo Jong said Kim Jong Un had good memories and feelings about Trump.
South Korea-U.S. Position
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Seoul opposed officially recognizing North Korea as a nuclear-weapon state and did not believe Washington had abandoned denuclearization.
- Missile launches
- More than 10 short-range ballistic missiles
- Flight distance
- Approximately 300 kilometers
- Launch area
- The Pyongyang area
- Exercises
- Ulchi Freedom Shield was shortened and scheduled to end about a week early
- U.S. troops in South Korea
- About 28,500
- Nuclear arsenal estimates
- Trump cited 57 weapons; South Korea estimates approximately 80 to 120
- South Korean response
- The presidential office held an emergency security meeting and ordered heightened readiness