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North Korea Fires Two Short-Range Missiles Toward East Sea

By Drooid · Sep 21, 2026, 10:22 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

North Korea Launches Missiles

North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on September 20, 2026.
The first missile, an Hwasong-11 series SRBM, traveled about 450 km from Wonsan at 3 p.m.
South Korea’s National Security Council condemned the launches and urged Pyongyang to halt missile activity violating UN resolutions.
Japan’s defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi protested, saying the missiles threatened regional peace and fell outside Japan’s EEZ.

Summary

Japan Coast Guard Alerts

Japan Coast Guard warned vessels in the East Sea to stay alert after a projectile recently fell outside Japan’s EEZ.
South Korea authorities urged commercial ships to monitor missile-flight updates and adjust routes if necessary.
No injuries or property damage were reported after the unidentified projectile landed in the sea.

History

Historical Context

North Korea’s missile program, begun in the late 1970s with Scud-B tests, produced its first Taepodong-1 launch from Musudan-ri and later, in 2022, saw an ICBM fly over Japan, prompting U.S. and South Korean alerts. By April 2023 the regime had carried out 129 tests, and the September 2026 Hwasong-11 launch from Wonsan echoes this long-standing pattern.

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North Korea Launches Missiles

North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on September 20, 2026.
The first missile, an Hwasong-11 series SRBM, traveled about 450 km from Wonsan at 3 p.m.
South Korea’s National Security Council condemned the launches and urged Pyongyang to halt missile activity violating UN resolutions.
Japan’s defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi protested, saying the missiles threatened regional peace and fell outside Japan’s EEZ.

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