North Korea fires ballistic missiles into Yellow Sea

07:49

By: Dakir Madiha

North Korea fires ballistic missiles into Yellow Sea

North Korea launched several short range ballistic missiles toward the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, according to South Korea’s military, marking Pyongyang’s first weapons test in more than five weeks and its eighth ballistic event of 2026.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the projectiles shortly after 1 p.m. local time. The launches originated from western North Korea and reportedly included multiple types of projectiles. Officials in Seoul said at least one of the weapons was a short range ballistic missile fired toward waters off the country’s western coast. The launch was also confirmed by military monitoring from regional allies.

The test ended a relative pause that began after North Korea’s April 19 launch of five tactical ballistic missiles from the eastern city of Sinpo. Those missiles were identified as upgraded Hwasongpho-11 systems and reportedly struck targets about 136 kilometers away in waters off the east coast. That operation marked Pyongyang’s seventh ballistic activity of the year and reinforced concerns over the country’s expanding missile capabilities.

South Korea said it had increased surveillance operations and was sharing intelligence in real time with the United States and Japan. Tokyo again condemned North Korea’s ballistic activities, arguing they violate United Nations Security Council resolutions banning such weapons tests. Regional security officials continue to monitor the possibility of additional launches in the coming weeks.

The missile test came amid renewed diplomatic activity in Northeast Asia. Reports last week indicated that Chinese President Xi Jinping could visit North Korea in late May or early June. South Korean officials said Chinese security and protocol personnel recently traveled to Pyongyang to prepare for a possible summit. Analysts believe Beijing may attempt to position itself as a mediator between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump during a period of rising regional tensions.

North Korea has accelerated missile testing throughout 2026. The campaign began in January and intensified through March and April with repeated launches involving tactical and short range systems. Analysts say Pyongyang often aligns military demonstrations with major diplomatic developments in the region. Kim Jong Un previously ordered a major increase in missile and ammunition production for 2026, while state media has repeatedly promoted advances in precision strike technology during recent testing operations.