Just days before U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, North Korea has launched a series of short-range ballistic missiles, marking its first missile test in five months a move widely seen as a direct warning to Washington.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the missiles were launched around 8:10 a.m. local time from North Hwanghae Province, traveling approximately 350 kilometers before landing in North Hamgyong Province. The launches did not reach the East Sea, but they were enough to put regional militaries on alert.
This test comes right before Trump’s participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea, where he is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade and regional security.
The JCS stated that South Korean and U.S. intelligence had detected early signs of missile preparations and tracked the launch in real time.
“The South’s military is maintaining a firm joint defense posture with the United States and is fully prepared to respond to any provocations,” the statement read.
Experts believe Pyongyang’s latest move is a show of defiance a reminder that its nuclear ambitions remain intact despite international sanctions and diplomatic pressure.
According to armscontrol.org, North Korea currently possesses around 50 assembled nuclear warheads and has enough fissile material for up to 90 nuclear weapons. Among its most well-known systems is the Hwasong-6 missile, capable of carrying conventional, chemical, biological, or nuclear warheads with a range of about 500 kilometers.
Earlier this month, during a massive military parade marking the Workers’ Party of Korea’s anniversary, Pyongyang unveiled its newest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) the Hwasong-20. Analysts describe it as North Korea’s most advanced long-range weapon, potentially capable of striking anywhere in the continental United States.
Nuclear analyst Ankit Panda of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace noted:
“The Hwasong-20 represents the peak of North Korea’s long-range nuclear delivery capabilities so far. We should expect to see a live test before the end of the year.”
With tensions rising once again, Trump’s upcoming Asia tour is shaping up to be a defining moment for U.S.-North Korea relations and the future of regional security in the Indo-Pacific.
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