North Korea has launched a ballistic missile eastward, its first weapons test in five months, just days before world leaders including US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping gather in South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC).
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the launch on Wednesday but provided no details on the missile’s type, range, or flight path. Typically, North Korea conducts such tests into waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, avoiding direct damage to neighboring countries.
The timing of the launch is significant. Analysts had warned that Pyongyang might stage a provocation before or during the APEC summit in Gyeongju to reinforce its demand for recognition as a nuclear weapons state. Such recognition, experts say, is central to Kim Jong Un’s push for the United Nations to lift crippling economic sanctions.
North Korea’s weapons program has accelerated since the collapse of Kim’s nuclear diplomacy with Trump in 2019, when talks broke down over sanctions relief. Despite the stalemate, Kim recently hinted at a willingness to return to negotiations if Washington drops its insistence on denuclearization. Trump, for his part, has repeatedly expressed hope for renewed dialogue.
Earlier this month, Pyongyang showcased the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile at a massive military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party. State media described it as the country’s “most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system,” reportedly capable of carrying multiple warheads to evade US missile defenses. Observers believe a test launch of the Hwasong-20 could follow in the coming months.
Kim’s international profile has also grown. He appeared alongside Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at a Beijing military parade last month, underscoring his strengthening ties with China and Russia. Meanwhile, both Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have signaled openness to future meetings with Kim, even as his missile launches highlight the risks of his expanding arsenal.
The latest test underscores Pyongyang’s strategy of combining military pressure with diplomatic maneuvering, ensuring its nuclear program remains at the center of regional and global negotiations.
Tags: North Korea missile launch 2025, Kim Jong Un weapons test, Hwasong-20 ICBM, APEC summit Gyeongju, Trump Xi Jinping APEC, North Korea sanctions, South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea US diplomacy, North Korea China Russia ties, North Korea nuclear arsenal
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