Pyongyang launches suspected ballistic missile amid rising regional tensions
March 14, 2026: Tensions rose in East Asia on Saturday after North Korea launched a suspected ballistic missile, prompting an emergency alert from the Prime Minister’s Office of Japan. In a post on X, the government warned the public about the developing situation. The administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi immediately activated emergency protocols to track the projectile’s trajectory.
According to reports from NHK, the missile was launched around 1:30 p.m., as confirmed by the Japan Coast Guard citing defence ministry information. Authorities issued an advisory to ships in the area to remain alert while monitoring further updates. Officials later assessed that the projectile likely fell outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, indicating no immediate threat to Japanese territory.
The launch was also detected by the military of South Korea, which said at least one projectile was fired eastward. The test comes as the United States and South Korea continue their annual joint military exercises. The Japanese government has convened an emergency response team at the crisis management centre to monitor developments and assess potential impacts.