North Korea in August 2026: the most important developments in security
North Korea in August 2026 was marked by a series of ballistic missile launches around the US-South Korea military exercises. The largest came on August 20, when North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the sea as the joint drills were concluding. The launches came hours after US President Donald Trump said he planned to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year. South Korea's military confirmed the launches, and Japan monitored them as a suspected ballistic missile test.
Earlier in the month, on August 11 and 12, North Korea fired a ballistic missile eastward toward the sea ahead of the exercises, its second test in less than a week. South Korea's military said the missile flew more than 700 kilometers, and Kyodo News reported it fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. North Korea said it must have the capability to counter strikes that would make an enemy's survival impossible.
On August 19, South Korea announced that the US-led drills would end six days early, following Trump's push for talks with Kim. The same day, Trump said North Korea has 57 very powerful nuclear weapons, while South Korea's Defense Minister estimated the country has between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads. Also on August 19, North Korea threatened Japan with an immediate destructive strike.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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