North Korea launches ballistic missiles toward sea ahead of South Korean leader’s visit to China

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles into the sea early Sunday, according to South Korean and Japanese officials, just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed for high-level talks in China where North Korea’s nuclear program is expected to be discussed.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported detecting several ballistic missile launches from North Korea’s capital region around 7:50 a.m. The missiles traveled approximately 900 kilometers (560 miles), with South Korean and U.S. authorities analyzing the details of the launches.

“South Korea maintains a readiness to repel any provocations by North Korea and is closely exchanging information with the U.S. and Japan on the North’s missile launches,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi confirmed at least two missile launches, describing them as “a serious problem, threatening the peace and security of our nation, the region and the world.”

The missile tests represent the latest in a series of weapons demonstrations by North Korea in recent weeks. Experts believe these displays are timed to showcase North Korea’s military advancements ahead of its upcoming Workers Party congress, the first such gathering in five years. This major political event, expected to take place in January or February according to South Korean intelligence, is being closely watched for signals about North Korea’s future policies toward the United States and potential responses to calls for resuming long-stalled diplomatic talks.

Since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s failed summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019, Pyongyang has intensified its efforts to expand its nuclear arsenal. Kim has simultaneously strengthened his diplomatic position by aligning with Russia over its war in Ukraine and deepening ties with China, North Korea’s most significant trading partner and ally.

“Kim Jong Un may feel vindicated about his efforts to build a nuclear deterrent, as he likely did after Trump’s strikes on Iran,” said Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

The timing of Sunday’s launches is particularly significant as they occurred just before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s four-day trip to China for a summit with President Xi Jinping. During the visit, Lee’s office stated he would request China take “a constructive role” in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea and the United States have long urged China to leverage its influence over North Korea to encourage denuclearization or a return to negotiations. However, questions remain about the extent of China’s influence, especially as China and Russia have repeatedly blocked U.S.-led efforts to strengthen economic sanctions against North Korea in recent years.

In response to the launches, South Korea convened an emergency National Security Council meeting where officials urged North Korea to cease ballistic missile launches, which violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.

North Korean state media has not commented on the missile launches but reported that Kim visited a weapons factory on Saturday to review multipurpose precision-guided weapons. According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim ordered officials to expand the current production capacity by about 2.5 times, signaling a continued focus on military development.

This latest provocation follows North Korea’s test-firing of what it described as long-range strategic cruise missiles last Sunday. On December 25, North Korea also released photographs suggesting progress in the construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine, another significant advancement in its military capabilities.

The missile launches come amid heightened global tensions, including the recent U.S. military operation that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power. Professor Easley suggested that this U.S. action might influence North Korean leadership perspectives, noting that “leaders of hostile regimes will probably live with greater paranoia after seeing how quickly Maduro was extracted from his country to stand trial in the United States.”