North Korea Launches Two Short-Range Ballistic Missiles off East Coast on September 20

On September 20, North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea at about 3 p.m. local time. The projectile traveled roughly 450 km (280 mi) and is believed to belong to the Hwasong-11 series. Around 6 p.m., a second short-range missile was launched from the same area, covering more than 600 km. Both missiles landed in the sea outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff initially described the first launch as an “unidentified projectile” before identifying it as an SRBM; the second launch was similarly reported pending analysis.

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The launches followed a pattern of heightened activity after North Korea’s test on September 12, which came a day after the trilateral “Freedom Edge” exercise involving South Korea, the United States and Japan. On September 14, Pyongyang announced a fire-power strike drill that mixed cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, multiple-rocket launchers and drones. In the weeks preceding the September 20 launches, North Korea dismissed a United Nations-backed resolution condemning its nuclear programme (September 19) and accused U.S.–led maritime drills such as “Pacific Vanguard” of provocation.

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• First missile: ~450 km flight, Hwasong-11 series (South Korean and U.S. analysis).

North Korea fires two missiles toward East Sea

• Second missile: >600 km flight, also identified as an SRBM.

North Korea Fires Another Projectile 3 Hours After Launching Short-Range Ballistic Missile

• This was North Korea’s first ballistic launch in eight days and its 14th SRBM launch of the year.

North Korea Fires Short-Range Ballistic Missile 450 Kilometers Into East Sea

• Earlier in September, North Korea fired about ten SRBMs in response to a U.S.–South Korean drill.

North Korea has launched an additional projectile toward the sea, South Korea says

• South Korea’s presidential office condemned the launches as violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions and called for an immediate halt to all missile activity.

North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the East Sea

• The South Korean National Security Council convened an emergency meeting to assess the threat.

North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the East Sea

• Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi estimated the missile’s maximum altitude at roughly 60 km and confirmed that the projectile fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

The Straits Times

• The United States said the launches do not constitute an immediate threat but emphasized continued monitoring under the combined South Korea-U.S. defense posture.

North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the East Sea

Sources differ on the exact flight distance of the first missile: South Korean and U.S. analyses cite 450 km, while Japanese estimates place it at approximately 440 km. The altitude figure (?60 km) appears only in Japanese statements. The nature of the second projectile remains unconfirmed; some outlets label it a ballistic missile, others an “unidentified projectile” pending technical analysis. No public information has clarified the missile’s specific variant within the Hwasong-11 family.

North Korea launched an unidentified projectile into the East Sea on the afternoon of the 20th, the . .

• “The North has fired an unidentified projectile into the East Sea,” — South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, reported shortly after 3 p.m.

North Korea Fires Unidentified Projectile into East Sea: Seoul

Analysts note that the timing of the September 20 launches may be intended to underscore Pyongyang’s resolve ahead of upcoming diplomatic engagements.

N. Korea fires second projectile within 3 hours into East Sea