The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected a missile launched from Wonsan, Kangwon Province at around 6 a.m. that flew more than 700 kilometers. It is analyzing the launch, including details about the missile, in coordination with U.S. authorities.
"South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are closely sharing information on the launch and maintaining full readiness," the JCS said.
The launch was the North's 11th provocation of this year, just less than a week after North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile from the same area last Thursday.
It also came just ahead of South Korea's joint military exercise with the U.S., dubbed Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), which is set to begin its 10-day drills next Monday.
North Korea has often protested against the annual exercise with missile launches and other provocations, calling it a "rehearsal for an invasion" by what it describes as "warmongers."
South Korea's National Security Office (NSO) called an emergency meeting shortly after the missile launch and expressed concern over the North's continued provocations, urging Pyongyang to stop such actions that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The JCS said it has stepped up surveillance and maintained vigilance against possible additional launches.
AJP Takeaways:
- North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea at around 6 a.m. on Aug. 12, 2026, with the missile traveling more than 700 kilometers after being launched from Wonsan, Kangwon Province.
- The Joint Chiefs of Staff is analyzing the missile launch in coordination with U.S. authorities, while South Korea, the United States and Japan are closely sharing information and maintaining military readiness.
- The Aug. 12 missile launch was North Korea's 11th provocation of 2026 and came less than a week after Pyongyang fired a short-range ballistic missile from the same area on Aug. 6.
- The launch came ahead of the 10-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, a joint military drill between South Korea and the United States scheduled to begin Aug. 17, 2026.
- South Korea's National Security Office called an emergency meeting after the launch, expressing concern over North Korea's continued provocations and urging Pyongyang to halt actions that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions.
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