North Korea fires ballistic missile towards the sea, South Korea says

North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards the East Sea on Saturday, October 3, 2026, according to reports from South Korea and Japan. The missile was fired from the Wonsan area and flew over 700 kilometers (435 miles) before landing in the sea. South Korea's military indicated it has increased its monitoring for further launches and is coordinating intelligence with the United States and Japan, while the presidential National Security Council convened an emergency meeting to assess the situation.

This latest missile test occurred amidst escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. It followed a strong rejection by North Korea, via Kim Yo-jong, of South Korea's demand for an apology over landmine blasts in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in September that injured three South Korean soldiers. Pyongyang has denied responsibility for the mines and dismissed recent calls for dialogue from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as "despicable."

The incident is part of a broader pattern of heightened hostility from North Korea, which has conducted more than ten missile tests this year. Since 2024, North Korea has abandoned its goal of unification and declared South Korea its "primary foe," further exacerbating regional instability.