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

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.

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.

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.

韩国外交部表示，在朝鲜最新一次弹道导弹发射后，韩国、美国和日本周一举行了电话磋商。朝鲜周日向东海发射了两枚短程弹道导弹，这是朝鲜今年第14次弹道导弹发射，也是八天来的首次发射。三国表示，他们分享了信息并讨论了未来的应对措施。

白勇镇采访了美国国务院的戴维·维莱佐尔和日本外务省的有吉隆。

该部表示，这三名官员分享了相关信息，并讨论了未来的应对措施。

据韩国联合参谋本部称，朝鲜周日的发射是今年第14次弹道导弹发射，此前朝鲜已暂停发射八天。

此次发射似乎是为了响应由美国海军第七舰队领导的“太平洋先锋”多国海上演习和其他地区军事活动。

发布于2026年9月21日上午10:39（韩国标准时间）

8月20日，首尔站的屏幕上滚动播放着朝鲜发射短程弹道导弹的报道。（韩联社）

韩国外交部表示，韩国、美国和日本的高级外交官周一举行电话磋商，分享信息并讨论应对朝鲜最新弹道导弹发射的措施。

据韩国联合参谋本部称，周日，平壤向东海发射了两枚短程弹道导弹，这是该国今年第 14 次弹道导弹发射，也是八天来的首次发射。

据韩国外交部消息，韩国外交部朝鲜半岛政策司司长白永镇与美国国务院东北亚事务副助理国务卿戴维·维莱佐尔以及日本外务省高级官员有吉隆进行了会谈。

该部在一份声明中表示：“三位官员分享了相关信息，并讨论了未来的应对措施。”

声明还补充说：“三国的外交部门开通了一条渠道，以便在朝鲜发射弹道导弹时能够迅速分享信息和评估结果。”

周日的发射行动似乎是为了回应由美国海军第七舰队领导的多国海上演习“太平洋先锋”以及其他地区军事活动。

此举也被视为平壤向外界发出的信号，即在周二开幕的联合国大会和周四美国总统唐纳德·特朗普与中国国家主席习近平的峰会之前，平壤将继续努力加强其军事能力。

尽管特朗普对朝鲜释放了和解信号，朝鲜仍继续进行导弹试验。特朗普也表示愿意与朝鲜领导人金正恩恢复对话。