Updated on: May 26, 2026 / 3:03 AM EDT / CBS/AP
Seoul, South Korea — North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile and other weapons toward the sea on Tuesday, according to South Korea’s military. This event is the latest in a series of military actions by North Korea this year.
The missile, fired from Jongju, a city near North Korea’s west coast, traveled approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles). This area is known as the Yellow Sea or West Sea, which lies between the Korean Peninsula and China. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff also noted the launch of other projectiles, though details were not specified.
South Korea’s military has reinforced its surveillance and remains prepared, in alliance with the U.S., to counter any provocations from the North, the Joint Chiefs stated.
This was North Korea’s first weapons test since April 19, when it reportedly launched multiple short-range missiles with cluster bomb warheads, as stated by their media. Since his nuclear negotiations with President Trump ended in 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has focused on expanding his nuclear and missile capabilities.
President Trump has shown interest in restarting talks with Kim, but North Korea has ignored these efforts, demanding the U.S. abandon its precondition for nuclear disarmament talks.
Kim has recently adopted a harsher approach toward South Korea, identifying it as a continuous and significant adversary, and is working to cut all diplomatic ties.
Earlier on Tuesday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, during a Cabinet meeting, emphasized the need to strengthen the country’s military capabilities. He discussed the importance of artificial intelligence, drone technology, and acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine, which has been a point in his discussions with Washington.
Though President Lee advocates for improved relations with North Korea, he did not specifically address the threats from the North. However, he highlighted the necessity for South Korea to assert responsibility for its own security, a point he believes will enhance the alliance with the United States.