In brief
South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that roughly a dozen short‑range ballistic missiles were launched from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea on 29 October 2026, echoing earlier tests from 12 October. Japan’s government said a missile that “may be ballistic” had fallen, adding to rising tensions. The South Korean presidential office convened an emergency meeting, with no casualties or damage reported and a call for heightened vigilance by allies.
South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced on 29 October that North Korea launched approximately a dozen short‑range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea at about 12:30 p.m., according to a statement released by the JCS that afternoon.
Japanese officials on the same day noted that North Korea had fired a missile that “may be ballistic” and had already fallen, as reported by the Japanese government. The remarks came amid growing concern over the region’s security situation.
The South Korean presidential office held an emergency meeting following the launch, with the Joint Chiefs of Staff emphasizing that the missiles travelled around 250 km and were detected by satellite and ground sensors. President Yoon Suk‑yeol urged a swift governmental and allied response, and said the administration would review readiness plans.
Defence ministry officials earlier confirmed overnight that twelve short‑range ballistic missiles had been detected by airborne early‑warning radar, with the launch believed to have come from the northern border region. No casualties or damage were reported, and the ministry viewed the test as a demonstration of North Korea’s missile capabilities rather than an attack.
The series of launches follows North Korea’s multiple ballistic missile tests on 12 October, which were seen as a show of force in response to South Korea’s recent hypersonic missile test. Allied forces in the region have stepped up surveillance and pledged close information‑sharing between the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
