North Korea Fires Short-Range Ballistic Missile From Wonsan Ahead of US-South Korea Drills

North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea from the Wonsan area on the afternoon of August 6, 2026 — its first weapons test since a late-June 'special mission' warhead and multiple rocket launcher test. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the launch and increased surveillance coordination with US and Japanese forces; Japan's Defense Ministry confirmed a probable ballistic missile with no impact in or around Japanese territory. The launch came days before the US and South Korea were set to begin large-scale annual joint military exercises later in August, which North Korea characterizes as invasion rehearsals.