WORLD WAR 3 RISK INDEX i

Verified situation report across 9 tracked conflicts, from open-source reporting to Friday 21 August 2026, 17:00 UTC. North Korea launched a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan as Ukrainian intelligence confirmed Pyongyang deployed over 8,000 troops, including drone operators, to support Russian combat operations. In the Middle East, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz dropped by 90 percent following strikes on regional infrastructure and commercial vessels near Qatar and Yemen. Simultaneously, European and NATO forces responded to airspace penetrations and maritime security threats across the Baltic and Black Sea regions.