North Korea launched a ballistic missile from the Wonsan area on its east coast towards the East Sea on Saturday morning, 3 October 2026, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. It was the latest launch carried out by Pyongyang in recent weeks.
South Korean military identifies missile type and launch site
The South Korean military initially issued an alert saying it had detected an unidentified projectile being launched towards the sea, before saying in a subsequent update that the projectile was a ballistic missile launched from the vicinity of Wonsan at about 6.30am local time. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said military authorities were continuing to analyse the missile’s type, flight distance, maximum altitude and impact location.
South Korean and US intelligence agencies are conducting a joint analysis of the missile’s characteristics and indicators linked to the launch. The military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance against the possibility of further North Korean launches, the Joint Chiefs of Staff added, saying that South Korea, the United States and Japan were exchanging information about the missile and maintaining a state of readiness.
Launch follows earlier missile test
The launch came 13 days after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area towards the East Sea on 20 September, with about three hours between the two launches.
North Korea’s state media said two days after the 20 September launches that the Missile Administration had successfully tested a new weapon in the presence of leader Kim Jong Un. Pyongyang did not name the system in its written report, but described the test as being of great significance for the development of weapons systems technology.
Kim Jong Un said, according to the official report on the earlier test, that the operation demonstrated advanced defence technology and the modernisation of the armed forces. He linked the system’s development to raising his country’s military readiness and developing its capabilities in the future. The Wonsan area is frequently used for North Korean missile launches towards the East Sea, allowing the testing of flight paths and range, as well as the operation of mobile launch platforms.
The South Korean military has not yet announced the detailed classification or final trajectory characteristics of the missile launched on Saturday, as the joint military analysis continues.
