North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Tuesday, according to South Korea’s military, in the latest weapons demonstration from Pyongyang this year.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were fired from Jongju, a city on North Korea’s west coast.
Following the launch, South Korea said its military increased surveillance and was sharing information closely with the United States and Japan.
The missile launch was North Korea’s first weapons test since April 19, when the regime fired multiple short-range missiles in what state media described as a demonstration involving cluster bomb warheads.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has continued expanding his country’s missile and nuclear programs after diplomacy with President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019.
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in resuming talks with Kim, but North Korea has so far ignored those overtures. Pyongyang has also insisted that Washington drop demands for nuclear disarmament as a precondition for negotiations.
Kim has taken a harder line toward South Korea in recent years, calling Seoul a permanent enemy and moving to cut remaining ties between the two Koreas.
The latest launch came as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for stronger military capabilities during a Cabinet meeting.
Lee emphasized the need to advance artificial intelligence, drones and other defense technologies. He also raised the possibility of South Korea acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine, an issue linked to discussions with Washington.
Although Lee did not directly comment on the North Korean missile launch, he said South Korea must show the resolve to protect its own security. He argued that a stronger defense posture would also strengthen the country’s alliance with the United States.
Why It Matters
North Korea’s missile tests continue to raise tensions in East Asia and put pressure on the U.S., South Korea and Japan to coordinate their military response. The launch also comes as Seoul debates how far it should go in modernizing its own defense capabilities.
What Comes Next
South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are expected to continue monitoring North Korean missile activity. Any further launches could increase pressure for more joint military exercises or additional sanctions.
A related post showed South Korean media coverage of North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launch toward the sea.
North Korea launches ballistic missiles over the sea in latest show of force https://t.co/cSJJCJ2lj4 pic.twitter.com/5iIQxvHxY7
— New York Post (@nypost) May 26, 2026
