North Korea fired around ten unidentified ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The missiles were detected at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time from the Sunan area, traveling toward the East Sea. The launch came shortly after Pyongyang warned of “terrible consequences” in response to the ongoing annual military exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States.
South Korea’s military confirmed the launch in a brief statement but did not immediately release additional details about the type of projectile or the distance it traveled.
Japan’s Coast Guard later said that what appeared to be a ballistic missile had been launched from North Korea around 1:30 p.m. local time, citing information from the defense ministry.
[Emergency alert]
— PM's Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) March 14, 2026
North Korea has launched a suspected ballistic missile. More updates to follow.
Officials believe the missile landed in waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. In response, Tokyo established an emergency response team at the prime minister’s crisis management center to evaluate the situation and determine whether any damage had occurred.
Instructions by the Prime Minister in Response to the Missile Launch by North Korea (13:30) pic.twitter.com/s447obl1FB
— PM's Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) March 14, 2026
The launch also comes amid renewed diplomatic speculation involving the United States. South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said that US President Donald Trump believes a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “would be good” following discussions between the two in Washington.
