North Korea launches second ballistic missile in a week ahead of U.S.-South Korea drills
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North Korea fired a ballistic missile from the Wonsan area early Wednesday, with the projectile flying over 700 km (435 miles) before splashing into the sea, according to South Korean and Japanese authorities. Seoul convened an emergency meeting and condemned the launch as a violation of U.N. resolutions, while maintaining readiness alongside the United States. The test came just six days after another ballistic missile launch, and days before the start of the Ulchi Freedom Shield joint exercises on August 17.
The Missile Launch
North Korea's military fired the ballistic missile at approximately 6:00 a.m. local time (21:00 GMT Tuesday) from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. The projectile traveled more than 700 kilometers (435 miles) before falling into the water, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and Japan’s Defense Ministry. This marked the second ballistic missile test in less than a week, following a short-range launch on August 6 that went unconfirmed by Pyongyang.
International Condemnation and Readiness
South Korea’s Office of National Security swiftly convened an emergency meeting, expressing concern over the continued launches and urging North Korea to cease provocations that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions. The South Korean military said it was maintaining a readiness posture to respond “overwhelmingly” under its combined defense arrangement with the United States, and had boosted surveillance in coordination with Washington and Tokyo. Japan also issued a statement condemning the launch, confirming the missile had fallen into the sea.
Broader Regional Tensions
The launch came just five days before South Korea and the United States are to begin their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, scheduled for August 17–27 and involving 18,000 South Korean troops alongside U.S. forces. North Korea has historically denounced such drills as invasion rehearsals, often responding with weapons tests and harsh rhetoric. Additionally, Reuters reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia used a North Korean missile in a deadly attack in Ukraine on Tuesday, underscoring Pyongyang’s deepening involvement in the conflict. Meanwhile, North Korean state media on Tuesday condemned Japan’s latest defense white paper as a “re-invasion-minded” document, accusing Tokyo of justifying its arms buildup.
What's Next
The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are set to begin on August 17 and run for 11 days, with analysts warning that North Korea may respond with further provocations. It remains unclear whether Pyongyang will escalate its weapons testing in the coming days or engage in diplomatic overtures, as the regime has historically linked its military displays to the scale of allied drills.
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North Korea launches second ballistic missile in a week ahead of U.S.-South Korea drills
