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North Korea fires missiles after Trump curtails drills

August 21, 2026

North Korea fired roughly 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea a day after Trump scaled back joint drills with South Korea.

CBS News, NPR, AP News and The Guardian report that North Korea fired about ten short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters, each traveling roughly 300 kilometers, a day after Kim Yo Jong dismissed the reduced Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises as unworthy of comment. AP News reports the drills were shortened by about half with some field training canceled, after President Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce them just before they began, citing his relationship with Kim Jong Un and Seoul's stance on Iran. The Guardian and CBS News carry Kim Yo Jong's statement that the drills remain provocative and offensive regardless of their reduced size, while NPR reports analysts reading her language as raising the price of re-engagement rather than closing the door on talks. Los Angeles Times headlines carry the same event. Trump told reporters he will meet Kim Jong Un again this year, an exchange AP News and The Guardian report the same way; he declined to say whether the two are exchanging letters. NPR reports experts see Kim holding more leverage than in his earlier talks with Trump, and reports concern the shortened drills weaken the allies' joint defense posture. The launches, the drawdown, Pyongyang's public dismissal of the overture, and Trump's stated plan to meet Kim again this year are settled across the outlets.

Still developing

The record carries Trump told reporters he will meet Kim Jong Un this year, and the meeting itself is not in the record.

How settled the reporting is

Reported 96% · Contested 1% · Developing 3%

Sources