North Korea launches missile amid declaration it must possess capability to counter strikes that would make enemy 'survival impossible'

North Korea has declared it must possess the capability to counter any potential enemy moves with retaliatory strikes that would make their "survival and recovery impossible", according to reports.

It comes as the country criticised South Korea's plan to develop nuclear-powered ‌submarines.

According to Reuters, North Korea's foreign ministry said the programme would heighten instability on the Korean Peninsula and in the wider ‌region.

The statement, carried by the state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), said Pyongyang must possess the capability to counter any military moves by adversaries with retaliatory strikes that would make their "survival and recovery impossible".

It comes as North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the Korean Peninsula's east coast, according to South Korean and Japanese authorities, days ahead of major joint military exercises by Seoul and Washington long denounced by Pyongyang.

The missile was launched from the Wonsan area at about 6am local time on Wednesday (10pm Tuesday UK time), South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, just six days after North Korea fired another ballistic missile from the same area.

The launch precedes the South Korean and US military drills, dubbed Ulchi Freedom Shield, set to run from 17 to 27 August, aimed at countering Pyongyang's evolving nuclear and weapons capabilities.

Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, said the launch was likely part of North Korea's existing weapons development schedule, but that the timing could also have been selected to send a message ahead of the exercises.

"Even if it was a test of a weapon under development, choosing when to conduct it requires a political decision," Mr Hong said.

There was no immediate statement from North Korea on the launch, but Pyongyang on Wednesday afternoon criticised the nuclear ambitions of South Korea and Japan.

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North Korea's series of tests this year has featured short-range ballistic missiles, artillery rockets and other tactical weapons.

This week's launch was its 11th suspected ballistic missile test in 2026, according to South Korean assessments.

South Korean and Japanese defence authorities said the missile flew about 700km (435 miles).

Mr Hong said the range, trajectory and launch site suggested it may have been a type of hypersonic missile, though a submarine-launched missile was also possible.

South Korea and Japan both condemned the launch.

"Japan lodged a strong protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing and strongly condemned the action," Japanese defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters.

South Korea's Office of National Security convened an emergency meeting and expressed concern over North Korea's continued ballistic-missile launches following the 6 August firing.

It urged Pyongyang to halt provocations that violate UN Security Council resolutions.

South Korea's military said it was maintaining readiness to respond "overwhelmingly" to any provocation under its combined defence posture with the US.

The US Indo-Pacific Command said it was consulting closely with allies and partners, adding that its initial assessment was that the launch posed no immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or to its allies.

(c) Sky News 2026: North Korea launches missile amid declaration it must po