Missile Test Launch · Full chronicle and history

According to @__Inty__, North Korea has used its largest submarine, the Hero Kim Kun-ok, to conduct a weapons test in the Sea of Japan for the first time. The submarine is a converted Romeo-class diesel-electric submarine equipped with about 10 vertical launch tubes. During this test, the submarine launched one submarine-launched cruise missile each through its vertical launch system and its torpedo tubes. The South Korean military said the entire launch process was under its surveillance.

North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea at around 9:20 a.m. local time, flying more than 900 kilometers, and both Japan and South Korea expressed protest and concern.

Around September 12, 2026, North Korea launched an unidentified projectile toward the Sea of Japan in the early morning. South Korea said it had detected the launch but provided no details; the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued a statement saying it was aware of the situation and that it posed no immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory, or allies.

Iranian state media claimed that a new solid-fuel ballistic missile, the "Qassem Basir," has completed testing, saying it has a range of at least 1200 kilometers and a warhead weighing about half a ton, and claiming it was tested against a US warship in a combat environment; the US military has not confirmed this.

As the Pacific Islands Forum closed, leaders agreed to express a joint concern over China's launch of ballistic missiles into the waters of forum member states; Nauru opposed the joint statement condemning China, and the statement was therefore not adopted unanimously.

China's Foreign Ministry said Palau has repeatedly hyped up the issue, and stated that the relevant missile tests were conducted under safe conditions, and that China is willing to work with South Pacific countries to maintain regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Australian Prime Minister Albanese said in an interview that China's notification of its missile test was insufficient and did not conform to international practice.

The Japanese government and the South Korean military confirmed that North Korea test-fired several suspected missiles toward the waters east of the Korean Peninsula on Thursday, with one reportedly landing in Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The U.S. State Department announced that 41 countries issued a joint statement saying that China's missile test did not follow the standard notification and coordination practices adopted by most countries, and called for the establishment of a transparent and routine advance notification mechanism.

On August 11, 2026, the United States publicly criticized China's earlier submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile test in the Pacific for lacking transparency, saying Beijing gave only two hours' advance notice to some affected countries.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Peters said that some members of the Pacific Islands Forum blocked the passage of a joint statement condemning China's recent test firing of nuclear-capable missiles in the region.

Japan's Ministry of Defense stated that the suspected ballistic missile launched by North Korea landed outside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and requested relevant departments to strengthen information collection and ensure the safety of aircraft and vessels.

Following China's missile test, Japan expressed strong urges for China to reconsider its missile test plan, noting that the missile landed in the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone.

China carried out a ballistic missile test with nuclear capability on July 6. The U.S. State Department criticized Beijing for notifying the U.S. only a few hours in advance and failing to provide adequate details, calling the practice irresponsible.

On July 6, a CCP Navy submarine launched a missile capable of carrying an intercontinental warhead from Bohai Bay, which flew over 10,000 kilometers to the South Pacific region. This move has drawn condemnation from multiple countries in the region.

During the 2026 RIMPAC exercise, China fired missiles into the Pacific, drawing close attention and continuous monitoring from the U.S. military and participating parties such as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

The U.S. State Department criticized China for giving Washington only a few hours' advance notice, with insufficient details, before a test launch of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile, calling the move irresponsible.

Japan's Ministry of Defense has expressed protest against frequent Chinese military activities and urged the Chinese side to reconsider missile tests that could threaten the safety of Japanese airspace.

US Secretary of War Hegseth announced that the US military has successfully completed the first milestone test of the national missile defense system, known as the US Golden Dome, against aerial threats.

The United States monitored China test-launching an intercontinental-range ballistic missile without a warhead from a submarine this June, which landed in the South Pacific.

In September 2024, the Rocket Force launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the high seas of the Pacific Ocean. Videos claimed this was the first full-range test launch in 44 years.

The last time China conducted a missile test was in September 2024.

From 1995 to 1996, China carried out missile tests and military exercises to intimidate Taiwan ahead of its 1996 presidential election.