North Korea Test Fires Missiles As Kim Jong Un’s Sister Says She’s ‘Unaware’ Of Any Talks With Trump

Aug 20, 2026 05:40 PM - 1 hour ago 1

Topline

North Korea connected Thursday test-fired respective ballistic missiles connected Thursday amid ongoing U.S.-South Korea associated subject drills, arsenic Kim Yo-jong—the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un—dismissed Trump’s remarks astir scaling backmost the workout arsenic an overture to Pyongyang and said she is “unaware” of immoderate caller talks betwixt Trump and Kim.

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, attends a reception successful the Great Hall of People pursuing a subject parade marking the 80th day of triumph complete Japan and the extremity of World War II, successful Beijing.

AFP via Getty Images

Key Facts

The South Korean subject connected Thursday said it had detected the motorboat of astatine slightest 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the oversea connected its eastbound coast—and branded the motorboat arsenic a provocation, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The launches came hours aft Trump said he plans to meet the North Korean leader sometime later this year—although its unclear if immoderate discussions person been made pinch Pyongyang successful this regard.

The president besides claimed that North Korea possessed 57 “very powerful atomic weapons” successful its arsenal—marking the first clip the U.S. has publically stated an charismatic count—and said it should person ne'er been allowed to happen.

Trump besides said he gets on “very well” pinch Kim and claimed that the North Korean leader didn’t for illustration his predecessors, Biden and Obama, but likes him.

The president, however, refused to opportunity if he plans to push for North Korea’s denuclearization, noting only that Kim will beryllium “fine arsenic agelong arsenic we person a smart president.”

What Did Kim’s Sister Say?

In a statement issued to state-run media, Kim Yo-jong, who is considered to beryllium a powerful personnel of her brother’s regime, said Trump’s determination to standard backmost the associated subject drill pinch South Korea did not alteration their “provocative and fierce nature.” She noted that the authorities has “no liking whatsoever” successful this overture made by the American president. On Trump’s comments that he had received a “very positive” consequence from North Korea connected his push for talks, Kim said she was “unaware” of immoderate caller talks betwixt the 2 countries’ leaders. Despite this, she acknowledged that her relative had “good memories and feelings” astir gathering pinch Trump successful the past and said the narration betwixt the 2 remained “excellent.” Kim, however, noted that: “Regardless of the fantabulous narration betwixt the leaders of North Korea and the U.S., the sovereign measures we are taking to deter the forces threatening our nationalist information are wholly reasonable, due and necessary.”

what do we cognize astir Trump’s overture?

In a Truth Social station connected Sunday, Trump expressed unhappiness pinch the U.S. military’s information successful associated exercises pinch South Korea. Touting his “very bully narration pinch Kim Jong Un,” Trump complained astir the precocious costs of these exercises and echoed Pyongyang’s statement that the drill were sending a s “totally inappropriate and hostile,” signal. Trump besides claimed North Korea has been “unthreatening and respectful” to the U.S. during his presidency. Noting that it was excessively precocious scrap the drills entirely, the president said he had ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” them.

Tangent

South Korea’s defense curate provided a different assessement of North Korea’s atomic arsenal compared to Trump’s remarks. Ahn Gyu-back, told lawmakers successful Seoul that the South Korean authorities believes the North has betwen 80 to 120 warheads, while noting that an nonstop count is difficult. This is overmuch higher than the 57 warfare heads number flagged by Trump.