North Korea launched around 10 short-range ballistic missiles near Wonsan on 29 October, South Korea’s military said. It increased surveillance, while Japan said the missiles landed outside its exclusive economic zone. Diplomats from three countries later discussed responses.
North Korea launched around 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on 29 October, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. It placed the launch near Wonsan at about 12:30 local time [07:30 Yerevan time]. Japan’s Defense Ministry said the missiles landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, the area of sea where a country has rights over resources, according to Yonhap.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles flew about 250 kilometers and that it was still analyzing other specifications with the United States. It increased surveillance, remained ready for further launches and shared information with the United States and Japan.
North Korean state media said on 30 October that the previous day’s weapons demonstration included a 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher, tactical cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles. That account described a broader demonstration than the short-range ballistic missiles South Korea’s military initially reported.
A South Korean military official initially assessed that the launch may have involved North Korea’s KN-25 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher. Pyongyang claims the launcher can carry Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warheads.
The launches followed a September 21 mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone, the border area separating the two countries, that injured 3 South Korean soldiers. A South Korean and United Nations investigation concluded that North Korea had planted the mines south of the military demarcation line more than a year earlier. North Korea denied responsibility.
North Korea subsequently said it planned to resume propaganda broadcasts and deploy weapons systems along the border. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, called Seoul’s demand for an apology “despicable” and rejected its offer of medical equipment. South Korea proposed military talks to clarify the border and prevent accidental clashes.
South Korea’s presidential office urged North Korea to halt what it called provocations after an emergency meeting about the launches. Yonhap said the meeting was convened to assess the launches.
On 30 October, senior diplomats from South Korea, the United States and Japan spoke by phone to share information and discuss responses, South Korea’s foreign ministry said. South Korea’s proposed border talks remained a separate possible step toward preventing accidental clashes; North Korea had given no response when DW wrote on 29 October.
DW reported that North Korea had conducted missile tests on more than 10 occasions in 2026 before the October 29 launches, including short-range ballistic missile launches on 12 October. US President Donald Trump had suggested he might meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2026; the two met at the inter-Korean border on 30 June 2019. DW reported concerns that South Korea could be sidelined in potential nuclear negotiations.
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