South Korea says North Korea fired around ten short-range ballistic missiles into the sea

The launch

The Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul reported that about ten short-range ballistic missiles were fired on Thursday, 29 October, into waters off the eastern coast of North Korea. The launch happened at around 12:30 local time (03:30 GMT) from an area near Wonsan. At first South Korea's military gave no details about the type of weapon. Japan's Defense Ministry said the missiles landed outside its Exclusive Economic Zone, citing Yonhap, while Japan's Coast Guard said the projectile could be a ballistic missile that had already fallen into the sea. The launch took place five days after Kim Jong Un travelled to China over a newly opened bridge linking the two countries.

Border dispute

Relations between the two Koreas have worsened since 21 September, when landmines in the Demilitarized Zone wounded three South Korean soldiers. A joint investigation by Seoul and the United Nations concluded earlier in October that North Korea had planted the mines south of the military demarcation line more than a year before. Pyongyang denies responsibility and has warned of retaliation if provoked. In late October the North announced plans to restart propaganda broadcasts along the border and to deploy new weapons systems in the area. Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un, condemned South Korea's demand for an apology and turned down a South Korean offer of medical equipment. Seoul has proposed talks on clarifying the border and avoiding accidental clashes, but Pyongyang had not answered as of Thursday's reports.

Missile testing this year

Pyongyang has tested missiles on over ten occasions in 2026. A ballistic missile fired on 3 October was described by state media KCNA as a hypersonic missile tested under the supervision of Kim Jong Un. Several short-range ballistic missiles were launched on 12 October, and a spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff linked those launches to Seoul's own hypersonic test. Earlier in October, President Lee Jae Myung personally watched South Korea's first hypersonic missile test firing, a rare public display of a weapons test by a South Korean head of state. The spokesperson described the 12 October launches in these terms:

“The 12 October missile launches appeared to be a show of force in response to the successful test launch of our hypersonic missile.”

Diplomacy and the United States

Concern in Seoul centres on the possibility that it could be bypassed in any future nuclear negotiations with North Korea, given Donald Trump's overtures to Pyongyang. Seoul is a close Washington ally, yet Trump's approach has left its role in any future talks uncertain. UN sanctions in place since 2006 aim to halt North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development. Under UN resolutions, North Korea may not launch ballistic missiles of any range, and such weapons can carry nuclear warheads depending on their design.