North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of US-South Korea drills

China's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Chijiang rejects a US-led joint statement concerning ballistic missile launch notifications at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on August 11, 2026.

Japan’s prime minister’s office announced the latest launch Tuesday.

The launch on Wednesday came as South Korea and the United States announced plans to hold their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military drills starting on August 17.

The 11-day exercises due to begin on Monday are a regular fixture of the summer calendar, designed to steel the United States and South Korea for defence against the nuclear-armed North.