North Korea launches about 10 short-range missiles as US-South Korea drills wind down
North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on August 20, prompting an emergency security meeting in Seoul as scaled-back US-South Korea military exercises neared their end.
In short
- North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on August 20, prompting an emergency security meeting in Seoul as scaled-back US-South Korea military exercises neared their end.
North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Thursday, August 20, according to South Korea’s military, prompting Seoul to convene an emergency security meeting.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were fired from the Pyongyang area at around 5 p.m. local time, or 08:00 GMT. The military said it strengthened surveillance and was sharing information with the United States and Japan. Japan’s prime minister’s office also reported detecting a suspected missile launch.
South Korea’s presidential National Security Council urged Pyongyang to stop ballistic-missile launches, which are prohibited under United Nations Security Council resolutions. No damage or casualties were reported in the available source material.
The launches came as the United States and South Korea were nearing the end of their Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises. The allies had said the 11-day drills would be scaled back after US President Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction, while citing his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and an interest in renewed diplomacy.
Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader’s sister and a senior official, rejected the idea that the reduced exercises represented a meaningful change, saying their character remained provocative. The missile launch adds tension to diplomatic signals from Washington and Pyongyang while regional governments assess whether talks could resume.
