North Korea launched 10 ballistic missiles into the East Sea on August 21, 2026, just one day after the US and South Korea announced a reduction in their joint military exercises.
The missile barrage, which triggered an emergency meeting of South Korea's National Security Council, follows Pyongyang's formal dismissal of recent diplomatic overtures from the Trump administration.
This escalation marks the largest single-day missile test by North Korea this year, signaling a return to aggressive posturing despite ongoing international pressure.