North Korea Flexes Nuclear Weapon Muscles Amid Iran War

North Korea launched several ballistic missiles on Sunday, South Korea’s military has said, after international experts warned Pyongyang has made rapid advances in its nuclear weapons development.

Seoul’s top military officials said North Korea had launched the short-range ballistic missiles from the coastal city of Sinpho at roughly 6:10 a.m. local time.

Sinpho is home to major North Korean ballistic missile sites, and is a location for the construction of submarines able to launch the weapons.

The missiles flew for roughly 140 kilometers (87 miles) toward the Sea of Japan, South Korea said.

Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said the country believed multiple missiles had fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, but Japanese, U.S. and South Korean authorities were working “closely” to analyze the launches.

Seoul said it was ready to “respond to any provocation in an overwhelming manner.”

Pyongyang has ramped up its missile tests since the start of the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran more than seven weeks ago.

This is at least the fourth missile test this month and seventh since the start of the year, widely seen by observers as a show of strength as the U.S. and Israel attempt to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile facilities and launchers, along with its nuclear capabilities.

Like Iran, North Korea has rapidly built up its weapons arsenal and focused on its ballistic missile programs, which are used to carry nuclear warheads. Pyongyang has tested long-range missiles thought to be able to reach the U.S.

While President Donald Trump said the U.S. had come out of “very good conversations” with Tehran on Saturday, Iran’s parliamentary speaker said this weekend that the two countries were still “far” from a peace deal to end the conflict that has wreaked havoc across the Middle East and beyond since late February.

Close to two months of persistent joint strikes have targeted Iran’s nuclear and missile sites. Tehran has retaliated by attacking U.S. allies in the Middle East with drone and missile barrages.

Diplomatic efforts to limit North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs have ebbed and flowed. A summit between North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, and Trump during the U.S. president’s first term collapsed, and although Trump has indicated a willingness to resume dialogue with Pyongyang, North Korean officials have so far appeared tepid on a meeting and batted away fresh attempts to warm up relations from South Korea’s government.

North Korea has insisted it will not denuclearize and wants to be recognized as a nuclear power.

A South Korean former presidential adviser said Pyongyang’s recent missile launches could be a way for the secretive country to show it can defend itself, unlike Iran.

“The North also appears to be exerting pressure preemptively and make a show of force before engaging in dialogue with the United States and South Korea,” Kim Ki-jung said in comments reported by the Reuters news agency.

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said earlier this week North Korea had made “very ​serious” progress in its ability to make nuclear weapons.

IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi said during a visit to Seoul on Wednesday activity at North Korea’s main nuclear site, known as Yongbyon, had dramatically increased.

North Korea is thought to have around 50 nuclear warheads, although there are questions about how effective its weapons are.

North Korean media reported Kim, along with top military commanders, had observed nuclear-capable missile tests earlier this month, watching on as several weapons were fired from a new North Korean warship.

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This story was originally published April 19, 2026 at 2:36 AM.