USNI News Western Pacific Pulse: Aug. 21, 2026

The following is a summary of major ship movements and exercises in the Western Pacific over the last week.

In Pyongyang, North Korea

North Korea on Thursday at 5 p.m launched approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

“While our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for further launches, South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are maintaining a state of full readiness by closely sharing intelligence regarding North Korean ballistic missiles,” stated the JCS. Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) estimated that the missiles reached a maximum altitude of 90 km and flew for 320 km before landing in the Sea of Japan.

The launches mark the third week in a row that North Korea has conducted ballistic missile launches though the previous two weeks consisted of a single missile launched from the vicinity of Wonsan. North Korea has maintained a silence on all the missile firings.

U.S Pacific Command (PACOM) issued the following statement on Thursday’s launches: “We are aware of the recent missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. Based on current assessments, these events do not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies. The United States remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region.”

In Tsushima Strait

JSDF photo On Sunday at 11 a.m, Russian Navy submarine RFS Ufa (B-588) and submarine rescue ship Igor Belousov were sighted sailing northeast in an area 170 km southwest of Tsushima and from Sunday to Monday sailing northeast through the Tsushima Strait to enter the Sea of Japan. The Japan Joint Staff Office (JSO) stated that Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) minesweeper JS Takashima (MSC-603) and a JMSDF P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) from Fleet Air Wing 4 based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi on the main island of Honshu shadowed the Russian submarine and submarine rescue ships.

Ufa and submarine rescue ship Igor Belousov sailed southwest between Yonaguni Island and Iriomote Island on Jul. 19 to enter the Philippine Sea and conducted a port visit to Cam Ranh, Vietnam from Jul. 26 to 29. Last week, both sailed northeast between Yonaguni Island and Iriomote Island on Aug. 13 to enter the East China Sea.

In La Perouse Strait

Russian guided-missile cruiser RFS Varyag Russian surveillance ship Pribaltica (80) was sighted sailing northwest roughly 20 km northeast of Cape Soya on the main island of Hokkaido on Saturday at 9 a.m. and then sailed west on Saturday and Sunday through La Perouse Strait separating Hokkaido from Russia’s Sakhalin Island into the Sea of Japan. JMSDF fast attack craft JS Umitaka (PG-828) and a JMSDF P-3C Orion MPA from Fleet Air Wing 2 based at JMSDF Hachinohe Air Base monitored Pribaltica, according to the JSO, which also saidthe Russian surveillance ship had sailed east through the strait on Jul. 15. La Perouse Strait is an international waterway and Russian ships regularly sail through it to transit between the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk.

Russian Navy Pacific Fleet ships that participated in a recent large-scale exercise in the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk and Northwest Pacific have been transiting west through La Perouse Strait to return to their homeport of Vladivostok.

On Saturday at 4 a.m., Russian Navy destroyer RFS Admiral Panteleyev (548) was sighted sailing west roughly 50 km northwest of Cape Soya, then sailed west through La Perouse Strait while being shadowed by Umitaka and a JMSDF Fleet Air Wing 2 P-3C Orion MPA.

Russian Navy cruiser and Pacific Fleet flagship RFS Varyag (011) on Thursday at 11 a.m. was seen sailing west about 40 km north of Cape Soya and then sailed west through La Perouse Strait with Umitaka and a JMSDF Fleet Air Wing 2 P-3C Orion MPA monitoring the cruiser’s transit.

At midnight on Friday, corvettes RFS Sovershennyy (333), RFS Gromkiy (335) and RFS Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov (339) were sighted sailing west about 30 km north of Cape Soya and then west through La Perouse Strait while under surveillance by JMSDF fast attack craft JS Kumataka (PG-827) and a JMSDF Fleet Air Wing 2 P-3C Orion MPA.

Varyag, Admiral Panteleyev, Sovershennyy, Gromkiy and Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov had transited east through La Perouse Strait as a single surface action group Aug. 4-5.

In Tokyo, Japan

RSS Steadfast 70 Republic of Singapore Navy frigate RSS Steadfast (70) pulled into Tokyo International Cruise Terminal on Wednesday for a port visit. Steadfast is making its way home to Singapore following participation in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 exercise in Hawaii that ran Jun 24-Jul. 31.

In Yokosuka, Japan

HMCS Regina (FFH334) JSDF photo A Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) surface task group comprised of frigates HMCS Regina (FFH334) and HMCS Ottawa (FFH341), as well as fleet oiler MV Asterix docked into Yokosuka on Thursday on a port visit. All three ships sailed from Hawaii following participation in RIMPAC 2026 and are now on an Indo-Pacific deployment as part of Operation Horizon, the Canadian Armed Forces’ presence and engagement deployment in the Indo-Pacific.

In Southwest Japan

JSDF photo On Tuesday morning to afternoon, a Chinese Y-9 Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) aircraft flew in from the Chinese mainland and, after flying over the East China Sea from roughly the coast of Okinawa to the Danjo Islands, flew back towards China. On the afternoon of the same day, one Chinese TB-001 reconnaissance/attack unmanned aerial vehicle flew in from the Chinese mainland and, after flying over the East China Sea from near the Danjo Islands toward the west coast of Okinawa, returned to China. The JSO stated that in response fighter aircraft from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Western Air Defense Command and other units were scrambled. The office’s release included photos of the Y-9 and TB-001 taken from the fighter planes.

On Wednesday from morning to afternoon, another Chinese Y-9 ELINT aircraft flew in from the Chinese mainland and then flew over the East China Sea to the south of the Danjo Islands and then flew southwest, then turned around near the coast of Okinawa. After making a round trip between the south of the Danjo Islands and the coast of Amami Oshima Island, the Y-9 flew towards China. In response, fighter aircraft from the JASDF Southwestern Air Defense Command and other units were scrambled, stated the JSO, which included a photo of the Y-9 in its release.

In Guam

USS Annapolis (SSN-760 ) on Aug. 14, 2026. US Navy photo On Saturday, Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 15 announced on the command’s official social media page that fast attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN-760) returned to Naval Base Guam on Aug. 13. Annapolis is one of four forward-deployed fast-attack submarines based in Guam.

“Guam’s fast-attack submarines serve at the tip of the spear, helping to reaffirm the submarine force’s forward-deployed presence in support of a free and open Pacific,” the media post added.

In Dalian, China

The 83rd PLAN Task Group comprising of training ship CNS Qi Jiguang (83) and amphibious transport dock CNS Kunlunshan (998) arrived in Dalian, China on Monday, completing a training deployment that took it over 11,000 nautical miles with stops in Vladivostok in Russia, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Surabaya in Indonesia and Muara in Brunei, according to a PLA Daily report.

In the Philippines

Marine Corps medium tactical vehicle replacement with Aviation Command and Control Detachment, Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, tows an AN/TPS-80 Ground and Air Task Oriented Radar during training in the Philippines, Aug. 17, 2026. US Marine Corps photo U.S. Marines with Air Command and Control Detachment, Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA), I Marine Expeditionary Force, tested the mobility of the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar during training in the Philippines on Monday, evaluating how the system can improve command and control and support fires integration in the archipelagic environment. The training occurred as MRF-SEA continues supporting the Philippine Marine Corps’ Archipelagic Coastal Defense Concept through the Archipelagic Coastal Defense Continuum (ACDC). The training helped bolster the Philippine Marine Corps’ Archipelagic Coastal Defense Concept and allows U.S. and Philippine forces to develop capabilities in areas including fires, command and control, maritime domain awareness and unmanned systems, stated a Marine Corps release.

In Manila, Philippines

Philippine Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) returned home to Manila on Tuesday following its participation in RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii. The PCG is the first foreign Coast Guard to be invited to participate in the exercise.

In Subic, Philippines

Philippine Navy photo Philippine Navy frigate BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG6 – PF) returned home to Naval Operating Base Subic, Luzon, Philippines on Thursday, following its participation in RIMPAC 2026.

In Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

HMAS Choules (L100) Royal Australian Navy amphibious dock landing ship HMAS Choules (L100) docked at a commercial port in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia on Saturday, Malaysia according to the Malaysian Armed Forces Joint Force Command. Choules is operating as the host ship for the ongoing U.S. Navy-led Pacific Partnership 2026 humanitarian and civic assistance mission. Kota Kinabalu is its second mission stop. The ship was coming from Singapore where it stopped for rest and resupply after its first mission stop in Sibolga, Indonesia.

In Lampung, Indonesia

Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26, and Indonesian marines with 7th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, pose for a photo after a jungle survival course as part of a platoon exchange near Lampung, Indonesia, Aug. 19, 2026. US Marine Corps photo U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force-Darwin 26 (MRF-D 26) and the Indonesian Marine Corps carried out jungle warfare training on Wednesday in Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia as part of the annual bilateral training platoon exchange. Approximately 60 Marines and sailors are participating in the exchange, including the Marines of 1st Platoon, Alpha Company and 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, reinforced by supporting elements from MRF-D 26. They are training alongside a platoon of Indonesian marines from the Indonesian Marine Corps’ A Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade.

In Surabaya, Indonesia

SEAL Team One and the Indonesian Navy KOPASKA naval special forces are carrying out Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) Flash Thunder Iron 2026 at KOPASKA Headquarters in Surabaya. The drills run from Aug. 4 to 24 and include marksmanship, close-quarters combat, sniper and military freefall parachuting training.

This post was written by Dzirhan Mahadzir.