Twin launches off Wonsan

North Korea launched two ballistic missiles from its eastern coastal area of Wonsan into the Sea of Japan on 20 September 2026. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the first short-range ballistic missile around 15:00 local time (06:00 GMT), confirming that the projectile flew approximately 450 kilometres before falling into the sea.

A second missile followed less than three hours later at approximately 17:50 local time (08:50 GMT), also fired from the Wonsan region. Japan's Ministry of Defense and the Prime Minister's Office tracked the launches, initially designating the projectiles as suspected ballistic missiles before confirming they had fallen into the water.

Response in Seoul and Tokyo

Following the first launch, South Korea convened an emergency meeting of its National Security Council to assess the security situation along the peninsula. The South Korean government issued a formal statement condemning the firings as a breach of international law.

“The launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea constitutes a grave act that violates United Nations Security Council resolutions.”

South Korean officials requested that Pyongyang immediately cease all such military actions. Japanese authorities monitored maritime safety across the Sea of Japan, noting that no damage to shipping or aircraft had been detected following the impact of the projectiles.

IAEA resolution and nuclear status

The firings took place shortly after North Korea rejected a resolution passed at the International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference. The IAEA resolution urged Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons development and dismantle its atomic programmes.

Pyongyang accused hostile forces at the IAEA conference of attempting to terminate its nuclear programme. Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, issued statements rejecting the international demands, stating on Thursday that those demanding North Korea abandon its nuclear arsenal were imbeciles and confirming on Saturday that Pyongyang would not yield its nuclear status.

Military exercises and stalled talks

The launches on 20 September 2026 occurred eight days after North Korea conducted live-fire tests on 12 September 2026. Those earlier tests involved around ten short-range ballistic missiles, artillery, and drones fired a day after South Korea, the United States, and Japan concluded the five-day trilateral Freedom Edge exercise.

US President Donald Trump had ordered the Pentagon in August to substantially reduce the scope of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise with South Korea, citing his personal relationship with Kim Jong-un to foster negotiations. Kim Yo-jong dismissed the concession, stating that reducing the drills did not alter their provocative and aggressive nature.

Diplomatic negotiations regarding North Korea's nuclear programme have remained stalled since the collapse of the 2019 bilateral summit between Trump and Kim Jong-un in Hanoi. Estimations of Pyongyang's nuclear capacity vary among governments: Trump stated in August that North Korea possessed 57 nuclear weapons, while South Korean authorities estimated the stockpile at between 80 and 120 warheads.