North Korea test-fired multiple missiles towards its eastern waters on Tuesday, according to South Korea's military. The short-range ballistic missiles were launched from a northern inland area, flying approximately 250 kilometers before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
The South Korean military, in collaboration with the U.S. and Japanese militaries, condemned the test as a 'clear provocation' that poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability. This marks North Korea's second missile launch event of 2025, following a ballistic test last week.
North Korea claimed that the Jan. 6 test involved a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile intended to target remote locations in the Pacific. Leader Kim Jong Un expressed intentions to expand the country's nuclear-capable weapons arsenal to counter rival nations.
In 2024, North Korea conducted a series of weapons tests, showcasing systems such as solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to reach the U.S. mainland. There are concerns that the country's military capabilities could further advance through technology transfers from Russia amid their alignment over the conflict in Ukraine.
Kim Jong Un, at a year-end political conference, vowed to implement a tough anti-U.S. policy and criticized the Biden administration's efforts to enhance security cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo, labeling it a 'nuclear military bloc for aggression.'
Despite previous meetings between Kim and former President Trump regarding North Korea's nuclear program, experts suggest that a swift resumption of diplomacy with North Korea, even if Trump returns to the White House, may be unlikely. Kim's bolstered position, bolstered by an expanded nuclear arsenal, closer ties with Russia, and weakened enforcement of U.S. international sanctions, presents new challenges in resolving the nuclear standoff.
