Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published September 20, 2026
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile toward the sea on Sunday, September 20, according to South Korean officials, adding to a recent series of weapons demonstrations by Pyongyang.
South Korea’s military said the missile was launched from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s eastern coast and traveled approximately 450 kilometers (280 miles) toward waters off the peninsula. South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities were monitoring the launch, while information was also shared with Japan.
The launch was reported by both Newsmax and ABC News, with ABC carrying an Associated Press report on the developing situation.
Another Missile Test Raises Regional Tensions
The latest launch follows North Korea’s recent warnings that it would respond to what Pyongyang describes as hostile military activity by the United States and its regional allies.
North Korea has repeatedly criticized joint and multinational military exercises involving the United States, South Korea and Japan, describing them as preparations for a potential invasion. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a senior government official, has particularly condemned recent exercises.
Earlier this month, North Korea conducted a large-scale firepower drill involving missiles, artillery and drones. South Korean officials said the country has continued closely monitoring North Korea’s military activity.
South Korea Calls for an End to Missile Launches
South Korea’s presidential office convened an emergency security meeting following Sunday’s launch.
Officials called on Pyongyang to stop ballistic missile launches, noting that such launches are prohibited under United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. South Korea’s military said it remains prepared to respond to potential provocations while maintaining its combined defense posture with the United States.
Japan also detected the suspected missile but said it did not land in Japanese territorial waters, according to the Associated Press report.
The U.S.-South Korea Military Exercise Factor
The missile launch comes after President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise with South Korea, an apparent effort to create space for renewed diplomacy with Kim Jong Un.
North Korea, however, has continued to criticize U.S.-led military activities in the region.
Kim Yo Jong dismissed the reduction in the U.S.-South Korean exercise, arguing that shortening the drill did not change what Pyongyang considers its provocative nature. North Korea has also criticized the multinational Pacific Vanguard maritime exercise involving the United States, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Nuclear Deterrence Remains Central
The missile test also comes after North Korea reiterated its intention to strengthen its nuclear capabilities.
Pyongyang has continued expanding its weapons programs since high-level diplomacy between Trump and Kim collapsed in 2019. North Korean officials have indicated that future negotiations with Washington would require the United States to abandon what Pyongyang calls its hostile policy and acknowledge North Korea’s nuclear status.
At the same time, South Korea’s government has continued signaling that dialogue remains an important component of managing tensions on the peninsula.
🧩 Bottom Line:
North Korea’s latest ballistic-missile launch adds another layer of tension to an already strained security environment in East Asia. The launch occurred despite Washington’s recent effort to reduce the scale of a major military exercise with South Korea, highlighting the difficulty of separating military deterrence from efforts to reopen diplomacy with Pyongyang.
SOURCES: NEWSMAX – South Korea Says North Korea Has Launched an Additional Projectile toward the Sea
ABC NEWS – South Korea says North Korea has launched an additional projectile toward the sea
