North Korea test-fires intermediate-range missile, Kim Jong Un oversees launch
North Korea test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile on October 3. South Korea says it flew more than 700 km, Japan about 680 km. Pyongyang's claims of evasive flight and AI features are unverified.
North Korea test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from the Wonsan area on its east coast, with leader Kim Jong Un overseeing the launch. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile flew more than 700 kilometers, while Japan's Defense Ministry estimated about 680 kilometers. Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un's sister, claimed the missile uses a wave-like trajectory and unspecified artificial intelligence features to evade missile defenses. These claims come from North Korea alone. The launch follows a September 21 landmine blast near the DMZ that wounded three South Korean soldiers. A joint investigation by South Korea's military and the UN Command concluded North Korea planted the mines; Pyongyang rejects that finding. Reporting: AP via Euronews, Seoul Economic Daily, JKN, The Korea Times.