North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area toward its eastern waters on August 20, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. The launch came just hours after US President Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction of the annual US-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises. Originally scheduled for 11 days, the drills ended early on August 21 [1, 2, 8, 3, 4, 5, 7].

South Korea’s military and national security council held an emergency meeting in response to the missile launches and condemned them as violations of UN Security Council resolutions [2, 5, 7]. South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back estimated North Korea’s nuclear arsenal as between 80 and 120 warheads, a figure significantly higher than the 57 nuclear weapons cited by Trump [1, 8, 4, 5]. Trump publicly reiterated North Korea’s nuclear capability at 57 powerful warheads and confirmed he intends to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later in 2026 [1, 2, 4, 6, 7].

Kim Yo-jong, sister of Kim Jong Un, dismissed Trump’s reduction of the military drills as insufficient. She called the exercises “provocative, aggressive” despite being smaller and shorter, saying the US would “not get the desired answer” if it sees the cutback as a gesture of goodwill [2, 3, 5, 6, 7]. She also denied any recent talks or communications with Trump despite his claims, while affirming the personal relationship between the two leaders remains “excellent” and North Korea retains “good memories and feelings” about Trump [2, 8, 6, 7]. Kim stated the sovereign measures taken by North Korea to deter threats are “completely reasonable, appropriate and necessary” [6].

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung responded to Trump’s decision to reduce the drills by calling it “a major decision reflecting deep consideration of how to move beyond hostility and confrontation and build peace on the Korean Peninsula” [1]. Approximately 28,500 US troops remain stationed in South Korea as part of the security alliance [8].

The joint US-South Korea drills officially ended early on August 21, cutting short the originally planned 11-day event [8, 5, 7].