North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile towards the sea on Wednesday, August 11, 2026, according to Japan’s Defence Ministry. The ministry stated that the missile landed in the water, marking the second such weapons launch in less than a week.

Yonhap news agency, citing South Korea’s military, reported that North Korea launched an unidentified projectile off its east coast. Japan’s NHK reported that the missile appeared to have landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the sea.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was fired from the Wonsan area at around 6 a.m. local time. In response, South Korea’s presidential office held a meeting on the same day to call for a halt to provocations.

This launch comes as South Korea and the United States prepare to conduct major joint military drills from August 17 to 27, aimed at countering North Korea’s evolving nuclear and weapons capabilities. Pyongyang has previously condemned these annual drills as provocations.

Sources