SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — On Friday, North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile toward its eastern waters, as reported by South Korea's military. This test reflects Pyongyang's increasing weapons activity amid ongoing stalled discussions with Washington and Seoul.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff did not provide further details about the missile, such as its type or the distance it traveled. Recently, North Korea has been accelerating its weapons testing pace, including the launch of claimed hypersonic and cruise missiles in the previous month, indicating an intention to bolster its nuclear-armed military capabilities.
Earlier this week, South Korea's military noted that North Korea fired ten rounds of artillery into its western waters. This occurred on the same day that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth began a two-day visit to South Korea. Additionally, the North launched an equal number of rounds again on Saturday afternoon, just before a significant summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping. During this summit held in Gyeongju, President Lee advocated for a more active role by Beijing to encourage Pyongyang to engage in dialogue with Washington and Seoul.
After attending annual security discussions with South Korean defense officials on Tuesday, Hegseth commended South Korea's plans to increase its military budget to counter North Korean nuclear threats and other regional uncertainties. Since 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been avoiding any form of discussions with Washington and Seoul. This shift followed a breakdown in diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump during Trump's first term, primarily due to disagreements over trading the lifting of U.S.-led sanctions for steps toward dismantling Kim's nuclear program.
Since then, Kim has escalated the growth of his nuclear weaponry and missile capabilities. He has also aligned more closely with Russia, providing thousands of troops and considerable military equipment to support President Vladimir Putin's war efforts in Ukraine. Currently, Kim's arsenal includes nuclear-capable missiles of varying ranges that can target U.S. allies in Asia as well as the U.S. mainland.
Last month, during a significant military parade in Pyongyang attended by senior officials from Russia, China, and Vietnam, Kim showcased some of the most advanced weapons in his collection. This included a new intercontinental ballistic missile, which he may be preparing for a test in the coming weeks.
Kim Jong Un has called on Washington to retract its demands for the North to relinquish its nuclear arsenal as a prerequisite for resuming diplomacy. He notably did not respond to Trump’s suggestion to meet while the American president was in South Korea last week for discussions with global leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju.
In a statement issued on Thursday, North Korea condemned the latest sanctions imposed by the Trump administration targeting cybercrimes that fund its nuclear weapons development. The North accused Washington of demonstrating "wicked" hostility toward Pyongyang and vowed to take unspecified countermeasures. Some analysts suggest that this statement indicates North Korea's lack of immediate urgency to reopen discussions with the U.S.
