South Korea Detects DPRK Hwasong-11D SRBM and Guided Weapon Tests from Jongju — Emergency NSC Convened

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected multiple short-range projectiles launched from the Jongju (Chongju) area in North Phyongan Province toward the Yellow Sea at approximately 1:00 p.m. KST on May 26, 2026 — the day after North Korea's May 25 SRBM and MRL launches. The projectiles included a Hwasong-11D special-mission tactical ballistic missile, 240mm guided artillery rockets with autonomous navigation, and what was later confirmed as a new AI-guided tactical cruise missile. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung convened an emergency National Security Council meeting; the ROK Joint Chiefs characterized the launches as a 'serious provocation' violating UN Security Council resolutions. The US, Japan, and South Korea coordinated intelligence assessment of the launches. North Korea's state media KCNA confirmed and detailed the test on May 27, revealing Kim Jong-un had personally supervised the test of three systems — including the first publicly claimed AI-based terminal homing guidance in a DPRK weapon — at the Academy of Defence Sciences. The May 26 launches, coming one day after the May 25 SRBM/MRL tests, constituted DPRK's 8th and 9th weapons test events of 2026 and the most concentrated testing activity since April.