N Korea launches ballistic missile as S Korea, US plan military drills | Weapons News
North Korea Conducts Second Ballistic Missile Test as US-South Korea Prepare for Military Exercises
By Adam Hancock
August 12, 2026
North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan, marking the second such test in less than a week, according to military officials in Seoul and Tokyo. The missile was fired early Wednesday from the Wonsan area, traveling over 700 kilometers (435 miles), as South Korea and the United States gear up for their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises scheduled to begin on August 17.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the missile was detected around 6:00 a.m. local time (21:00 GMT Tuesday) and confirmed that they are actively coordinating with the U.S. and Japan regarding the launch. Meanwhile, Japan’s Defence Ministry stated that the missile had “already fallen,” but did not elaborate further.
Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at Kyungnam University, noted the pattern of North Korea responding to joint military exercises conducted by South Korea and the U.S. He emphasized that Pyongyang appears to be closely monitoring the upcoming drills and may consider further provocations.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are expected to last 11 days, featuring approximately 18,000 South Korean troops, consistent with previous years. Historically, North Korea has condemned such drills, viewing them as rehearsals for invasion, while Seoul and Washington assert that their activities are defensive in nature.
On August 6, a previous missile launch was detected, marking North Korea’s first ballistic firing since late June. North Korea has not officially confirmed either missile launch.
In recent weeks, North Korea has escalated its criticism of Japan’s defense policies, condemning the country’s latest white paper as one that would “groundlessly” label Pyongyang as a considerable strategic challenge, thereby justifying Japan’s arms buildup.
Additionally, North Korea has been implicated in military exchanges with Russia amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday that Moscow had employed a North Korean ballistic missile during an attack that resulted in fatalities at a Ukrainian steel plant in Zaporizhzhia.
