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North Korea Launches Short‑Range Missiles Toward East Sea, Prompting Korean and U.S. Condemnations

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North Korea Fired Multiple Short‑Range Missiles at 3:50 p.m. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff detected a salvo of short‑range ballistic missiles launched from north of Pyongyang at about 15:50 local time on 27 January 2026, each traveling roughly 350 km before landing in the East Sea [1][2][4][5][6]. The missiles were identified as short‑range projectiles, though some reports only confirmed a single unidentified projectile [7][8]. South Korean and U.S. analysts began joint technical analysis of the flight data immediately after detection [1][4].

Seoul Condemned the Test as a Violation of UN Resolutions The Office of National Security issued a formal statement labeling the launch a provocative breach of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and demanded that Pyongyang cease such activities without delay [1][2][3]. An emergency security meeting convened senior military officials to coordinate a response and brief President Lee Jae Myung on the incident [1][2]. The condemnation emphasized regional stability and warned of further escalation if provocations continue [1][3].

Launch Timing Linked to Upcoming Party Congress Analysts noted that the test occurred just days before the Workers’ Party’s first congress in five years, scheduled for early February, suggesting Pyongyang intended to showcase military strength ahead of the policy‑setting event [1][4][6]. The congress is expected to outline new defense, diplomatic and economic strategies, and the missile launch is viewed as a signal to both domestic and international audiences [1][4].

U.S. Officials Coordinate Response and Assess No Immediate Threat U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby concluded a three‑day visit to South Korea on the same day, meeting Seoul’s national security adviser and defense ministers to discuss alliance issues such as nuclear‑powered submarines and wartime operational control [4][6]. A newly released Pentagon strategy urges Seoul to assume a primary role in its own defense while labeling North Korea a direct military threat [4][6]. U.S. Forces Korea later stated the launch posed no immediate danger to U.S. personnel or assets, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to regional security [4].

Reports Differ on Projectile Count and Technical Details Some articles described “multiple missiles,” while others reported only “an unidentified projectile” and omitted specifics on missile type, payload, or trajectory [7][8]. The brief JCS notice at 07:00 UTC gave no further technical data, whereas later releases provided range estimates and launch‑site information [5][6]. These discrepancies reflect varying levels of information release and verification timing across the reports.

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Timeline

Dec 9 2025 – North Korea fires about ten 240 mm multiple‑rocket‑launcher rockets toward the northern Yellow Sea in its regular winter drills, prompting the Joint Chiefs of Staff to stress a “firm combined defense posture” with the United States and to monitor the activity closely [29][30].

Dec 11 2025 – The U.S. Eighth Army conducts the inaugural live‑fire of the M270A2 multiple‑launch‑rocket system at Camp Casey, showcasing the new launcher and underscoring “ongoing modernization” and close alignment with the Republic of Korea’s artillery upgrades [27].

Dec 15 2025 – South Korea deploys the Korean Tactical Surface‑to‑Surface Missile (KTSSM) at the Army’s strategic missile command in Wonju, branding it a “long‑range artillery killer” designed to strike hidden North Korean long‑range artillery [28].

Dec 19 2025 – Kim Jong‑un opens new regional factories, pays tribute to his late father, and urges “all‑out public effort” to finish major Workers’ Party projects before the ninth party congress slated for early 2026 [26].

Dec 24 2025 – Kim Jong‑un oversees a test‑fire of new long‑range anti‑air missiles in the East Sea; the missiles hit mock targets at roughly 200 km altitude, and the leader “congratulates the successful test‑fire,” signaling continued support for the program [25].

Dec 26 2025 – Kim Jong‑un orders a massive expansion of missile and shell production, directing the construction of new munitions plants and stating that “missile and shell production is of paramount importance in bolstering the war deterrent” [23][24].

Dec 28 2025 – Kim Jong‑un supervises a series of long‑range strategic cruise‑missile launches in the Yellow Sea, declaring the missiles “absolutely reliable” and pledging “unlimited and sustained development of the state nuclear combat force.” The same day he inspects an 8,700‑ton nuclear‑powered strategic guided‑missile submarine under construction and oversees a high‑altitude long‑range anti‑air missile test over the Sea of Japan [19][20][21][22][24].

Jan 2 2026 – Kim Jong‑un marks Constitution Day with a flag‑raising ceremony, then oversees a long‑range cruise‑missile drill in the Yellow Sea, calling for “unlimited and sustained development of the state nuclear combat force” and later tours new paper‑mill and hospital facilities as part of his regional development push [17].

Jan 3 2026 – North Korea launches several short‑range ballistic missiles toward the sea (≈900 km) as South Korean President Lee Jae‑Myung prepares to depart for a state visit to China; Kim Jong‑un simultaneously orders a 2.5‑fold expansion of tactical guided‑weapon production capacity [5][15].

Jan 4 2026 – In a flurry of activity, North Korea conducts its first ballistic‑missile test of the year, firing multiple missiles (≈900 km) toward the East Sea just hours before Lee Jae‑Myung’s summit with Xi Jinping; Kim Jong‑un visits a munitions factory and orders production capacity for tactical guided weapons to “more than double” ahead of the upcoming Workers’ Party congress [1][3][4][12][13][14][16].

Jan 5 2026 – Kim Jong‑un attends a hypersonic‑missile drill, stating that “the technology task must be continuously upgraded” and that the test “confirms an important national‑defense technology task,” reinforcing the regime’s push for advanced offensive capabilities [4][12].

Jan 9 2026 – North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, prompting South Korea’s Office of National Security to convene an emergency meeting; simultaneously, Kim Jong‑un’s daughter Ju‑ae appears at back‑to‑back public events, a move the Unification Ministry says projects “socialist imagery of one great family” [10][11].

Jan 19 2026 – South Korea fields the 65‑foot Hyunmoo‑5 “monster” missile, a conventional ballistic system carrying an 8‑ton warhead designed to destroy underground missile bunkers; deployment began late 2025 and is slated for completion by the end of President Lee Jae‑Myung’s term in 2030 [2].

Jan 27 2026 – North Korea launches several short‑range missiles (≈350 km) toward the East Sea, prompting South Korea’s Office of National Security to label the act a “UN violation” and to call for an immediate halt; the Joint Chiefs of Staff issue a concise range report [6][7]. The same day the U.S. releases a new defense strategy urging Seoul to take a “primary role” in its own defense, calling North Korea a “direct military threat” and warning of a “clear and present danger” of a nuclear attack on the U.S. homeland [8]. U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby ends a three‑day Korea visit, meeting South Korean officials on alliance issues [8]. The launches are framed as a show of force ahead of the ninth Workers’ Party congress scheduled for early February 2026 [8].

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