SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea on Sunday, according to reports from its neighboring countries. This incident occurred just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed for China for talks that are anticipated to address North Korea's nuclear program.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that they detected several missile launches from North Korea's capital region at around 7:50 a.m. The missiles reportedly traveled approximately 900 kilometers (560 miles). South Korean and U.S. authorities are currently analyzing the specifics of these launches.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff emphasized that South Korea is prepared to respond to any provocations from North Korea and is maintaining close communication with the U.S. and Japan regarding the missile launches. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi confirmed at least two missile launches, labeling them as a significant threat to peace and security both regionally and globally.
This latest missile launch is part of a series of weapons demonstrations by North Korea in recent weeks. Experts suggest that North Korea aims to showcase its defense capabilities ahead of the upcoming ruling party congress, the first in five years. Observers are closely monitoring the Workers Party congress in hopes of determining whether North Korea will establish a new policy regarding the U.S. and respond to calls to resume long-stalled talks.
Since the denuclearization negotiations between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former U.S. President Donald Trump fell apart in 2019, North Korea has focused on expanding its nuclear arsenal. Alongside its military developments, Kim has sought to boost his diplomatic position by strengthening ties with Russia amid its ongoing war in Ukraine and enhancing relations with China. Analysts speculate that Kim now sees significant leverage to extract concessions from Trump if negotiations were to resume.
Although North Korea has not specified the date for the upcoming congress, South Korea's intelligence agency suggests it is likely to take place in January or February. The missile launches also coincided with President Lee Jae Myung’s travel to China for a summit with President Xi Jinping. During this four-day visit, President Lee is expected to ask China, North Korea's primary ally and largest trading partner, to play a "constructive role" in fostering peace on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea and the U.S. have consistently urged China to exert its influence over North Korea to encourage a return to diplomatic discussions or to persuade it to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Nonetheless, doubts remain regarding the extent of China's leverage over its ally. Recently, China, alongside Russia, has frequently blocked efforts by the U.S. and other nations to impose tougher economic sanctions on North Korea.
Later on Sunday, South Korea convened an emergency national security council meeting during which officials urged North Korea to cease its ballistic missile launches, which contravene U.N. Security Council resolutions. The council briefed President Lee on the details of the missiles launches and provided unspecified plans for South Korean response strategies.
These missile launches took place following a significant U.S. military operation that resulted in the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, bringing him to the United States to face charges related to narco-terrorism conspiracy. Such actions underscore the U.S.'s aggressive stance on regime change in nations deemed hostile, reminiscent of its invasion of Iraq in 2003. Experts suggest that Kim Jong Un may feel justified in his nuclear deterrent efforts, particularly in light of the rapid U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
North Korea’s state media has not addressed the recent U.S. operation. According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim visited a munitions factory on Saturday to inspect precision-guided weapons being produced there. He reportedly instructed officials to increase the factory's production capacity by approximately 2.5 times.
In a recent missile test, North Korea fired long-range strategic cruise missiles. Additionally, on December 25, the country released images indicating progress in constructing its first nuclear-powered submarine.
