Japan-U.S.-ROK Telephone Meeting Follows Missile Launches By North Korea

TOKYO — On August 20, following North Korea’s ballistic missile launch, Deputy Director-General Ariyoshi of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a trilateral phone meeting with Baek Yong-jin, Director-General for Korean Peninsula Policy at South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, and David Wilezol, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of State.

The Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs placed the call on Friday, August 21. The three officials shared relevant information and discussed future responses.

The foreign ministries of the three countries operate a channel for promptly sharing information and assessments whenever North Korea launches ballistic missiles.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff detected more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area at around 5:00 p.m. local time (8:00 a.m. UTC) on August 20.

The missiles flew approximately 186 miles (300 km) toward eastern waters. Japan’s Defense Ministry reported multiple ballistic missiles with an estimated flight distance of about 199 miles (320 km) and a maximum altitude of about 56 miles (90 km), with impact outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) stated on August 20 that it is aware of the recent missile launches and is consulting closely with allies and partners.

Based on current assessments, these events do not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to allies. The United States continues its defense of the U.S. homeland and allies in the region.

South Korea’s presidential national security council convened an emergency meeting and stated that the ballistic missile launch is a grave act that violates U.N. Security Council resolutions, calling on North Korea to immediately halt such actions and ordering the military to maintain full readiness.

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back told lawmakers on August 20 that the short-range ballistic missiles are believed to be 600 mm multiple rocket launchers, a system North Korea has previously described as capable of delivering tactical nuclear warheads and known externally as the KN-25.

South Korean Defense Minister: North Korea Has Between 80 and 120 Nuclear Warheads

Ahn assessed that North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, a figure drawn from a local research institution based on estimated plutonium holdings. He noted the numbers appear somewhat different from the figure of 57 cited by President Trump.

The launches occurred as the scaled-back U.S.-Republic of Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises continued. The exercises had originally been scheduled through August 27 and were shortened to end on Friday, August 21, following a U.S. order to substantially reduce them.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries were wrapping up the drills on August 21, six days earlier than initially scheduled. Live drills were scaled down from 14 to seven, which will run through August 28 as originally scheduled.

The remaining seven exercises that were removed from the lineup will be rescheduled through consultations with Washington.

A Joint Chiefs of Staff official stated that the seven drills will proceed as planned and be wrapped up by the 28th, since the duration of each training varies by exercise, and that the adjusted drills will be carried out in a combat-realistic manner.

Launches (Newest to Oldest)

• August 20: More than 10 short-range ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area, range approximately 186 miles (300 km) per South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and about 199 miles (320 km) per Japan’s Defense Ministry; Japan-U.S.-ROK telephone meeting held in response; USPACOM no-immediate-threat statement issued

• August 12: Ballistic missile from the Wonsan area, range approximately 435 miles (700 km); Japan-U.S.-ROK telephone meeting held the same day

• August 6: Ballistic missile from the Wonsan area

Official Statements

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, August 21, 2026: “On August 21, in response to the ballistic missile launch by North Korea on August 20, Mr. ARIYOSHI Takashi, Deputy Director-General, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a Japan-United States (U.S.)-Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministries’ Official Telephone Meeting with Mr. Baek Yong-jin, Director-General for the Korean Peninsula Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROK, and Mr. David Wilezol, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of State of the U.S. 1. They reaffirmed that ballistic missile launches by North Korea violate the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and called on North Korea to cease such provocations that threaten the peace and security of the region and the international community. 2. They reaffirmed close coordination among Japan, the U.S. and the ROK.”

• U.S. Pacific Command, August 20, 2026: “We are aware of the recent missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. Based on current assessments, these events do not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies. The United States remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region.”

• South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, August 20, 2026: Detected more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area at around 5 p.m.; South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities tracked and shared information from the initial stage and shared it with Japan; specific type not immediately disclosed. “Our military is closely monitoring various North Korean activities under a firm South Korea-US combined defense posture and maintaining the capabilities and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation.”

• South Korea presidential national security council, August 20, 2026: “The ballistic missile launch is a grave act that violates U.N. Security Council resolutions,” calling on North Korea to immediately halt such actions.

• South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, August 20, 2026: The short-range ballistic missiles are believed to be 600 mm multiple rocket launchers. “Our estimate is between 80 and 120, but giving an accurate figure is limited.” The figure comes from a local research institution based on the amount of plutonium that North Korea is estimated to have possessed and produced.

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, August 12, 2026: “On August 12, in response to the ballistic missile launch by North Korea on the day, Mr. ARIYOSHI Takashi, Deputy Director-General, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a Japan-United States (U.S.)-Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministries’ Official Telephone Meeting with Mr. Baek Yong-jin, Director-General for the Korean Peninsula Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROK, and Mr. David Wilezol, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of State of the U.S. 1. They reaffirmed that ballistic missile launches by North Korea violate the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and called on North Korea to cease such provocations that threaten the peace and security of the region and the international community. 2. They reaffirmed close coordination among Japan, the U.S. and the ROK.”

• Kim Yo Jong via North Korean state media, August 19, 2026: “As for the reduction of the U.S.-ROK joint military drill abruptly announced by the U.S. president a few days ago, we regard it as the one unworthy of comment and have no interest in it at all.” “As for the news from Washington that shortly ago, there was a communication between the leaders of the DPRK and the U.S., I am not aware of it at all.” “The relationship between those two leaders is still excellent. However, the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK has remained unchanged.”