North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Ahead of US-South Korea Drills

North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday, August 12, marking its second such launch in less than a week.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the missile fired from the Wonsan area at approximately 6 a.m. local time. The missile flew more than 700 kilometers before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. Japanese authorities also detected the launch, with Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stating Japan lodged a strong protest with Pyongyang.

South Korea's Office of National Security convened an emergency meeting, urging North Korea to halt provocations that violate UN Security Council resolutions. The launch occurred days before the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises, set to run from August 17 to August 27, between the United States and South Korea. Pyongyang has consistently condemned these drills as war rehearsals, while Washington and Seoul maintain they are defensive.

North Korea also criticized South Korea's nuclear submarine plans, calling them a threat to regional security. This missile test is North Korea's 11th suspected ballistic missile launch in 2026, according to South Korean assessments. Zelenskyy also claimed North Korea is preparing to deploy more troops to Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2024, pledging mutual aid if either country faces aggression.