Japan's Defense Ministry Said North Korea Fired at Least Two Ballistic Missiles on October 12

North Korea·Japan

Japan's Ministry of Defense and the Cabinet Secretariat announced on October 12, 2026, that North Korea had fired at least two ballistic missiles that morning from an inland location toward the northeast and the east, and that the missiles were estimated to have fallen near North Korea's east coast and in the Sea of Japan. The ministry said none had reached Japanese territory or Japan's exclusive economic zone by that point. Launch times, flight distances, and peak altitudes all follow the Japanese government announcement.

The ministry listed the two launches separately. The first was fired at about 09:19, reached a peak altitude of about 20 kilometers, and flew about 220 kilometers. The second was fired at about 09:36, reached a peak altitude of about 70 kilometers, and flew more than 910 kilometers. For the second launch, the ministry said Japan, the United States, and South Korea were closely analyzing the details, including the possibility that it flew an irregular trajectory. The ministry did not identify the missile types in this announcement.

The Defense Ministry's official X account posted the same content on October 12. The account said North Korea had fired at least two ballistic missiles from an inland location toward the northeast and the east, that they were estimated to have fallen near North Korea's east coast and in the Sea of Japan, and that none had reached Japanese territory or the exclusive economic zone.

https://x.com/ModJapan_jp/status/2109492700538150928

Earlier, the same account had posted a first notice that an object possibly a ballistic missile had been fired from North Korea. That post belongs to the stage immediately after the launch and differs in timing from the later announcement that confirmed at least two missiles and their flight distances.

https://x.com/ModJapan_jp/status/2109440556493631687

Japan Says No Damage Reported After Warning Aircraft and Vessels

According to the Defense Ministry, the Japanese government provided information to aircraft and vessels in the vicinity, and there had been no reports of damage at that point. The prime minister was informed immediately and instructed officials to devote all efforts to information gathering and analysis, to provide swift and accurate information to the public, to thoroughly confirm the safety of aircraft and vessels, and to maintain full readiness for unforeseen contingencies. The wording of those instructions follows the ministry's announcement.

The government said it gathered information from relevant ministries at the Prime Minister's Office crisis management center, convened an emergency team, and discussed the response. At the Defense Ministry, the defense minister, acting on the prime minister's instructions, directed officials to work closely with the United States, South Korea, and others on information gathering and analysis, and to maintain full alert and surveillance readiness.