North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan early Wednesday (Aug 12), South Korea's military said, just days before annual large-scale joint exercises between Seoul and Washington are due to begin. Japan also confirmed the launch, describing the object as a suspected ballistic missile, and saying the suspected ballistic missile had already fallen.The launch comes as tensions rise around the annual US-South Korea military drills, which Pyongyang has long condemned as preparations for an invasion.South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was launched from the Wonsan area at around 6 am. local time and travelled more than 700 kilometres before falling into waters off the country's east coast.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-s-kim-inspired-by-his-favourite-wannabe-dictator-trump-satellite-images-reveal-secret-makeover-of-9-luxury-compounds-1783741141942">North Korea's Kim inspired by his favourite wannabe 'dictator' Trump? Satellite images reveal secret makeover of 9 luxury compounds</a><h2>A warning ahead of US-South Korea drills?</h2>The timing of the launch is significant. The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are scheduled to begin on Monday and are designed to prepare US and South Korean forces for a potential conflict with North Korea.Pyongyang has repeatedly responded to similar exercises with missile launches, either before or after the drills. "North Korea has never simply let a South Korea-US joint military exercise pass without a response," Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at Kyungnam University, told AFP. He said the launch appeared to signal that Pyongyang was closely monitoring the upcoming exercises and could carry out further provocations if it believes they are necessary.South Korea's national security office held an emergency meeting following the launch and called North Korea's recent missile tests "provocative acts", urging Pyongyang to stop them immediately.<h2>What are the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises?</h2>The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises will involve around 18,000 South Korean troops, along with US forces from the approximately 28,500 American personnel stationed in South Korea.US and South Korean commanders say this year's training will account for the battlefield experience North Korean troops have gained through their involvement in the Ukraine conflict. "North Korean soldiers have taken those lessons they learned there and brought them back to North Korea," Colonel Ryan Donald, spokesman for the US and South Korean Combined Forces Command, said Monday. "Our training accounts for that threat," he added.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/baba-vanga-s-2026-prophecy-2-predictions-already-came-true-3-terrifying-ones-remain-first-human-alien-contact-world-war-3-and-putin-s-exit-1786169922573">Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside</a><h2>Japan calls launch a threat</h2>The missile also comes amid growing tensions between North Korea and Japan. Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the launch as a "threat to peace and security in our region" and said Tokyo had lodged a strong protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing.Pyongyang has recently accused Japan of remilitarising and transforming itself into what it described as a "war state".Japan has traditionally maintained a pacifist defence posture, but has increased military spending, strengthened defence partnerships, and deployed missile systems to islands closer to potential flashpoints. Koizumi said last week that Japan needed to strengthen its military with a "sense of urgency and crisis".

North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan days before major US-South Korea military drills, drawing a warning from Seoul and Japan.

North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan early Wednesday (Aug 12), South Korea's military said, just days before annual large-scale joint exercises between Seoul and Washington are due to begin. Japan also confirmed the launch, describing the object as a suspected ballistic missile, and saying the suspected ballistic missile had already fallen. The launch comes as tensions rise around the annual US-South Korea military drills, which Pyongyang has long condemned as preparations for an invasion. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was launched from the Wonsan area at around 6 am. local time and travelled more than 700 kilometres before falling into waters off the country's east coast. Also read | North Korea's Kim inspired by his favourite wannabe 'dictator' Trump? Satellite images reveal secret makeover of 9 luxury compounds A warning ahead of US-South Korea drills? The timing of the launch is significant. The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are scheduled to begin on Monday and are designed to prepare US and South Korean forces for a potential conflict with North Korea. Pyongyang has repeatedly responded to similar exercises with missile launches, either before or after the drills. "North Korea has never simply let a South Korea-US joint military exercise pass without a response," Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at Kyungnam University, told AFP. He said the launch appeared to signal that Pyongyang was closely monitoring the upcoming exercises and could carry out further provocations if it believes they are necessary. South Korea's national security office held an emergency meeting following the launch and called North Korea's recent missile tests "provocative acts", urging Pyongyang to stop them immediately. What are the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises? The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises will involve around 18,000 South Korean troops, along with US forces from the approximately 28,500 American personnel stationed in South Korea. US and South Korean commanders say this year's training will account for the battlefield experience North Korean troops have gained through their involvement in the Ukraine conflict. "North Korean soldiers have taken those lessons they learned there and brought them back to North Korea," Colonel Ryan Donald, spokesman for the US and South Korean Combined Forces Command, said Monday. "Our training accounts for that threat," he added. Also read | Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside Japan calls launch a threat The missile also comes amid growing tensions between North Korea and Japan. Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the launch as a "threat to peace and security in our region" and said Tokyo had lodged a strong protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing. Pyongyang has recently accused Japan of remilitarising and transforming itself into what it described as a "war state". Japan has traditionally maintained a pacifist defence posture, but has increased military spending, strengthened defence partnerships, and deployed missile systems to islands closer to potential flashpoints. Koizumi said last week that Japan needed to strengthen its military with a "sense of urgency and crisis".

North Korea has fired another ballistic missile, just days before major US-South Korea military drills. But the timing of the launch may be more significant than the missile itself. What is Pyongyang signalling?

'Provocative acts': North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of US-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises

North Korea on Tuesday (May 26) launched an "unidentified projectile" into the Yellow Sea off the country's west coast, according to South Korea’s military. In a brief statement, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectile was launched toward the West Sea, the Korean name for the Yellow Sea, located between China and the Korean Peninsula. Officials did not immediately provide further details about the type of projectile or the distance travelled.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/green-card-applicants-should-go-home-new-us-citizenship-rule-may-hit-indians-hardest-check-how-you-could-be-affected-1779514161561">Green card applicants should go home? New US citizenship rule may hit Indians hardest; check how you could be affected</a><h2>Was it a cluster bomb warhead?</h2>The launch comes just a month after North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles in what state media described as a test aimed at verifying the "characteristics and power" of cluster bomb warheads.Pyongyang has sharply accelerated weapons development since talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019 without an agreement on denuclearisation. While Trump has repeatedly said he remains open to restarting dialogue with Kim, North Korea has so far ignored those overtures and insisted Washington must first drop demands related to nuclear disarmament.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-no-one-can-protect-you-revealed-irgc-linked-terrorist-allegedly-plotted-to-assassinate-ivanka-trump-to-avenge-qasem-soleimani-house-map-chilling-1779506377886">'No one can protect you': REVEALED! IRGC-linked terrorists' plot to assassinate Ivanka Trump</a><h2>Xi Jinping to visit North Korea</h2>The latest launch also comes at a politically sensitive moment in the region. Reports from South Korean media last week suggested Chinese President Xi Jinping could visit North Korea sometime this week, though neither Beijing nor Pyongyang has officially confirmed the trip.At the same time, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for major upgrades to Seoul’s military capabilities during a Cabinet meeting. Lee stressed the need to strengthen artificial intelligence and drone technology and also floated the possibility of acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine.Without directly mentioning North Korea during his remarks, Lee emphasised that South Korea must show the "resolve to take responsibility for and protect our own security ourselves," while also maintaining strong ties with the United States.

North Korea has fired another mysterious projectile into the Yellow Sea, weeks after testing what it called cluster bomb warheads. Scroll down for full details.

North Korea on Tuesday (May 26) launched an "unidentified projectile" into the Yellow Sea off the country's west coast, according to South Korea’s military. In a brief statement, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectile was launched toward the West Sea, the Korean name for the Yellow Sea, located between China and the Korean Peninsula. Officials did not immediately provide further details about the type of projectile or the distance travelled. Also read | Green card applicants should go home? New US citizenship rule may hit Indians hardest; check how you could be affected Was it a cluster bomb warhead? The launch comes just a month after North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles in what state media described as a test aimed at verifying the "characteristics and power" of cluster bomb warheads. Pyongyang has sharply accelerated weapons development since talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019 without an agreement on denuclearisation. While Trump has repeatedly said he remains open to restarting dialogue with Kim, North Korea has so far ignored those overtures and insisted Washington must first drop demands related to nuclear disarmament. Also read | 'No one can protect you': REVEALED! IRGC-linked terrorists' plot to assassinate Ivanka Trump Xi Jinping to visit North Korea The latest launch also comes at a politically sensitive moment in the region. Reports from South Korean media last week suggested Chinese President Xi Jinping could visit North Korea sometime this week, though neither Beijing nor Pyongyang has officially confirmed the trip. At the same time, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for major upgrades to Seoul’s military capabilities during a Cabinet meeting. Lee stressed the need to strengthen artificial intelligence and drone technology and also floated the possibility of acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine. Without directly mentioning North Korea during his remarks, Lee emphasised that South Korea must show the "resolve to take responsibility for and protect our own security ourselves," while also maintaining strong ties with the United States.

North Korea has fired another mysterious projectile into the Yellow Sea, weeks after testing what it called cluster bomb warheads. Scroll down for full details.

North Korea fires ‘unidentified projectile’ into Yellow Sea amid rising regional tensions

North Korea launched at least two short-range ballistic missiles on Friday which was its 6th launch within a month. Otherside, Japan's Shinzo Abe said that no threat to security from North Korea projectile launch. Watch this video to know more.

6th launch of N. Korea within a month, Japan's Abe says no threat to security from projectile launch

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'Provocative acts': North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of US-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises

North Korea fires ‘unidentified projectile’ into Yellow Sea

6th launch of N. Korea within a month, Japan's Abe says no threat to security from projectile launch