Chronology of military events since mid-September
The following is a rolling chronology of ballistic missile events (drills and test firings), artillery shelling incidents and external military exercises (US-ROK, US-JP and US-ROK-JP) that have occurred in and around the Korean Peninsula since the DPRK conducted a ballistic missile launch in T’aech’o’n, North P’yo’ngan, on 25 September 2022. Events are listed (by day) in reve rse chronological order. It will be updated every day around midnight Washington, DC, time.
As of 31 December, the DPRK has neither reported nor been observed to have conducted its seventh nuclear test.
31 December
8:01-8:15 KST Three short-range ballistic missiles launched from a TEL in Chunghwa County, North Hwanghae, toward the East Sea (Sea of Japan)
30 December
ROK Agency for Defense Development conducts test of solid propellant space launch vehicle
26 December
10:25-15:30 [ca.] KST Five (5) Korean People’s Army [KPA] drones cross the inter-Korean border and military demarcation lines [MDL] into ROK; one returned to the DPRK and the others were lost on radar. The ROK scrambled air assets to the ROK west coast and some 100 shots were fired at the drones. ROK then fired its own reconnaissance drones over the MDL and into he DPRK
23 December
16:32 KST Two short-range ballistic missiles fired from Sunan toward the East Sea
20 December
US-ROK fighter jets participate in a joint exercise near Cheju Island
18 December
DPRK National Aerospace Development Administration announces it conducted an “important final stage test” of a reconnaissance satellite at the Sohae Center, Tongch’ang-ri, Ch’o’lsan County, North P’yo’ngan
11:13-12:05 KST Two medium-range missiles fired from Sohae Center, Tongch’ang-ri, Ch’o’lsan County, North P’yo’ngan, and land in East Sea (Sea of Japan)
15 December
Solid-fuel rocket (missile) engine tested at the Sohae Center in Ch’o’lsan County, North P’yo’ngan (KJU in attendance)
6 December
10:00 KST KPA unit fires 90 rounds from MLRS in Koso’ng County, Kangwo’n (DPRK), into the East Sea which land in the North’s buffer zone on the NLL
18:00 KST KPA unit fires 10 rounds from MLRS in Ku’mgang County, Kangwo’n (DPRK), into the East Sea which land in the North’s buffer zone on the NLL
Second and final day of US-ROK joint MLRS and artillery exercise in Cheorwon County, Kangwo’n (ROK)
5 December
KPA General Staff issues a spox statement
14:59 KST KPA units in Changsan Cape, South Hwanghae and Ku’mgang County, Kangwo’n (DPRK), launch a total of 130 artillery shells which land within the North’s “buffer zone” on the NLL
8:00 KST ROK and US forces begin a two-day exercise involving MLRS and Howitzers in Cheorwon County, Kangwo’n (ROK)
18 November
10:14 KST A long-range ballistic missile (ICBM) is launched from Sunan and lands 210 km (130 miles) off the coast of Hokkaido (later identified as a Hwasong-17)
17 November
9:08 KST DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui issues statement responding to US-ROK-JP summit on G-20 sidelines in Bali
10:48 KST One SRBM launched from vicinity of Wo’nsan
9 November
15:31 KST One SRBM launched from Sukch’o’n, South P’yo’ngan
5 November
11:32-11:59 KST Four SRBM’s fired from Tongrim County, North P’yo’ngan toward the East Sea (Sea of Japan)
Sixth and final day of US-ROK joint exercise Vigilant Storm
4 November
11:00-15:00 KST KPA Air Force fighter jets and bombers participate in air-to-ground exercises across the DRPK
ROK scrambles about 80 fighter jets in response
Fifth Day of US-ROK joint air exercise Vigilant Storm
3 November
7:40 KST Long-range missile from Sunan, lands in the East Sea (Sea of Japan)
[identified as Hwasong-17 which exploded during its second stage]
8:39 KST Two SRBMs launched from Kaech’o’n, South P’yo’ngan
US-ROK extend Vigilant Storm joint air exercises (originally slated to late through 4 November)
20:38 KST WPK Secretary for Military Affairs Pak Jong Chon issues brief communique
21:35-21:49 KST Three SRBMs fired from Koksan County, North Hwanghae toward East Sea
23:28 KST 80 rounds of artillery fired from Ku’mgang County, Kangwo’n toward NLL “buffer” zone
Fourth Day of US-ROK joint air exercise Vigilant Storm
2 November
6:51 KST Four SRBMs fired from Cho’ngju and P’ihyo’n County, North P’yo’ngan, toward Yellow (West) Sea
8:51 KST Three SRBMs from the vicinity of Wo’nsan fired toward the East Sea (one lands south of the NLL)
9:12 KST 10 SAMs (surface-to-air missiles) and SRBMS launched from Sinp’o, and Ragwo’n and Cho’ngp’yo’ng Counties, South Hamgyo’ng, Onch’o’n and P’yo’ngwo’n (Hwajin-ri) Counties, South P’yo’ngan, and Kwail County, North Hwanghae toward the East (Sea of Japan) and Yellow (West) Seas
11:10 KST ROK Air Force fires three ASMs (air-to-surface missiles) north of the NLL
13:27 KST 100 artillery shells fired from Kosong County, Kangwo’n, with some landing in the inter-Korea “buffer” zone near the NLL
16:30-17:10 KST SAMs launched from Sinp’o and Cho’ngp’yo’ng County, South Hamgyo’ng toward the East Sea (Sea of Japan) and from Onch’o’n, South P’yo’ngan toward the West (Yellow) Sea
Third day of US-ROK joint air exercise Vigilant Storm
31 October
US-ROK joint air exercise Vigiliant Storm begins (lasts through 4 November)
28 October
11:59/12:19 KST Two SRBMs from Kangwo’n Province; missiles land within inter-Korea “buffer zone”; this was the first significant ballistic missile event since 14 October
Final day of ROK Hoguk exercises
24 October
3:42 KST DPRK commercial vessel crosses the NLL 27 km (16.7 miles) north of Baengnyeong Island and ROK Navy units fires 20 shots chasing vessel back North
3:50 KST ROK naval ship cross the NLL north
5:15 KST KPA coastal defense units in Ryongyo’n County fire ten artillery shells
ROK Hoguk exercises Day 8
19 October
12:30 KST Artillery fired from Yonan County, South Hwanghae (100 rounds)
ROK Hoguk exercises Day 3
18 October
22:00 KST Artillery fired from Changsan Cape, South Hwanghae
23:00 KST Artillery fired from Changjon, Kangwo’n (150 rounds)
ROK Hoguk exercises Day 2
17 October
ROK Hoguk exercises commence (through 28 October)
14 October
scrambles 10 KPA AF planes near recon line
short range launch from Sunan
ROK exercise off the coast of Kangwo’n Province near V Corps (alleged by KPA GSD)
1:20-1:25 KST Artillery fired from South Hwanghae
257-307 KST Artillery fired from Kangwo’n Province
17:30-18:30 KST Artillery fired from Changjon, Kangwo’n (90 rounds)
Artillery fired from Haeju Bay, South Hwanghae (90 rounds)
Artillery fired from Changsan Cape (210 rounds)
12 October
long-range cruise missile test from Kaech’o’n
10 October
US-JP HIMARS and MLRS Drill in Hokkaido
9 October
short range from Munch’o’n
MLRS and artillery drill in DPRK
8 October
KPA Air Force strike drill
6 October
short range from Samso’k
MLRS and artillery drill in DPRK
KPA Air Force strike drill
US-ROK-JP anti-missile Exercise
5 October
US-JP anti-sub and carrier exercise in Okinawa
South Korea and the United States fired four ground-to-ground missiles into the East Sea (one additional ROK missile failed and crashed 1km away from launch site)
4 October
ROK Hosts Annual Minesweeping Exercises w/ 10 nations
In response to IRBM, 2 ROK fighters fire two JADAM precision bombs at Jikdo firing range, 4 US + 4 ROK fighters fly “strike package” as show of force
3 October
IRBM from Chagang
1 October
short range from Sunan (2)
30 September
US-ROK-JP anti-submarine drill
29 September
short range from Sunch’o’n (2)
US-ROK Joint Exercises
28 September
short-range from Sunan (2)
US “Teak Knife” drills conducted, publicized on 30 Sept
26 September
US-ROK Joint Exercises
25 September
Missile launch from T’aech’o’n, North P’yo’ngan (reservoir) (DPRK claims SLBM, outside analysis claims short-range)