What did South Korea, the United States and Japan discuss after North Korea’s latest missile launches?

Senior diplomats of the three countries held phone consultations to share information and discuss responses after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea. The foreign ministry said the three sides also use a standing channel to promptly share information and assessments when North Korea launches ballistic missiles.

How many ballistic missiles did North Korea fire on Sunday and why did analysts say it may have done so?

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, marking its 14th ballistic missile launch of the year. The launches appeared to be in response to multinational maritime exercise Pacific Vanguard and other regional military activities.

S. Korea, US, Japan hold consultations over N. Korea's latest missile launches

Listen

Summary

South Korea, the United States and Japan held telephone consultations Monday after North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launches, Seoul’s foreign ministry said. North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Sunday, its 14th ballistic missile launch of the year and the first in eight days. The three countries said they shared information and discussed future responses.

Key Facts

Baek Yong-jin spoke with David Wilezol of the U.S. State Department and Takashi Ariyoshi of Japan’s foreign ministry.
The ministry said the three officials shared relevant information and discussed future responses.
North Korea’s Sunday launches were the 14th ballistic missile launch of the year and came after an eight-day pause, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The launches appeared to respond to multinational maritime exercise Pacific Vanguard led by the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet and other regional military activities.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 21, 2026 10:39 am KST

A screen at Seoul Station displays a report on North Korea's launch of short-range ballistic missiles, Aug. 20. Yonhap

Senior diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan held telephone consultations Monday to share information and discuss responses following North Korea's latest ballistic missile launches, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

On Sunday, Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, marking the country's 14th ballistic missile launch of the year and the first in eight days, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

Baek Yong-jin, director general for Korean Peninsula policy at the ministry, spoke with David Wilezol, deputy assistant secretary for Northeast Asia at the U.S. State Department, and Takashi Ariyoshi, a senior official at Japan's foreign ministry, according to the ministry.

"The three officials shared relevant information and discussed future responses," the ministry said in a release.

"The foreign affairs authorities of the three countries operate a channel for promptly sharing information and assessments whenever North Korea launches ballistic missiles," it added.

Sunday's launches appeared to have been in response to multinational maritime exercise Pacific Vanguard, led by the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet, and other regional military activities.

The move is also seen as an external message that Pyongyang will continue efforts to bolster its military capabilities ahead of the U.N. General Assembly session beginning Tuesday and a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for Thursday.

North Korea has continued its missile tests despite Trump's conciliatory gestures toward the North. Trump has also expressed willingness to resume dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Explore More