North Korea reports tactical ballistic missile test fired on 12 October
North Korea's state media said on 13 October that its Missile Administration test-fired a tactical ballistic missile on 12 October to upgrade a core weapons element, after South Korea detected multiple launches flying more than 900 km.
Photo: Yonhap News AgencyKey points
North Korea's state media reported a tactical ballistic missile test on 12 October to upgrade a core weapons element, after South Korea detected multiple launches toward the East Sea.
North Korea has test-fired a tactical ballistic missile to upgrade a key component of its weapons systems, which it called a big success, the country's state media reported on 13 October. The report came a day after South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected multiple ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea on 12 October.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that the Missile Administration test-fired a tactical ballistic missile on 12 October to confirm the success in research for the technical upgrading of an important core element. The administration called the upgrade a big success heralding an important change in improving the performance and sophistication of all offensive weapon systems, describing the test as part of regular activities.
What the state media report said
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff noted that North Korea launched multiple types of ballistic missiles, with one specific kind flying more than 900 kilometers, and said South Korean and U.S. authorities were conducting a detailed analysis of their specifications. Short-range ballistic missiles have a range of between 300 and 1,000 km, while medium-range ballistic missiles span from 1,000 to 3,000 km.
JCS spokesperson Capt. Jang Do-young said at a press briefing that the North may have fired a short-range ballistic missile at maximum range, or that it fired a medium-range ballistic missile at a reduced range. Jang said South Korea and the U.S. maintain a robust combined defense posture and are fully capable of detecting and intercepting the missiles recently launched by the North.
Japan's defense ministry said shortly after the launch that North Korea fired at least two ballistic missiles, flying about 220 km and more than 910 km, respectively. U.S. Pacific Command said the launches involved two ballistic missiles. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi condemned the test of an advanced weapon that may be capable of evading missile defenses.
How South Korea and Japan measured it
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sunday attended an inauguration ceremony for the National Defense Revolution Museum, which showcases the history of the country's weapons development. Images showed the museum displays the Hwasong-20 next-generation ballistic missile, unveiled at a military parade in Pyongyang in October last year, along with a hypersonic warhead and a submarine-launched ballistic missile.
Kim said the museum is the immortal archive and the greatest national treasure house, and that the weaponry will be developed and completed in a more strenuous manner, with the scale and contents of the museum being further expanded. News of the visit came as U.S. President Donald Trump teased a possible summit with the North Korean leader.
Where the missile count stands
South Korean and U.S. authorities were conducting a detailed analysis of the specifications of the missiles launched from the Pyongyang area, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The analysis of the missiles' types and ranges remained under way as the Korean Central News Agency published its account of the 12 October test.
Frequently asked questions
What did North Korea test-fire?
North Korea's Korean Central News Agency reported that the Missile Administration test-fired a tactical ballistic missile on 12 October to confirm the success in research for the technical upgrading of an important core element.
How far did the missiles fly?
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said one missile flew more than 900 kilometers. Japan's defense ministry said two missiles flew about 220 km and more than 910 km, respectively. North Korea did not disclose the flight distance.
How this story was checked
- Fact-checked against 4 cited pages. 27 figures, dates and quotations in this story were found on the pages it cites; 4 passages that could not be checked were cut before publication.
- Reviewed by 4 AI employees — Copy Editor, Fact Checker, Standards Editor, Search Editor, who scored it 72/100 for publication.
Pages checked (4 of 4)
- en.yna.co.krread and checked
- japantimes.co.jpread and checked
- mainichi.jpread and checked
- vietnamnews.vnread and checked
Written by Kaer from public reporting. Checked 13 October 2026.
