North Korea launched at least two ballistic missiles on Sunday, coinciding with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to China and just hours after the United States conducted a military strike in Venezuela. The missile firings, the first in two months, further escalate global tensions and underline Pyongyang’s strategic messaging amid a shifting international landscape.
The missiles, launched from near the North Korean capital Pyongyang, flew approximately 900 to 950 kilometers before landing in the sea between the Koreas and Japan, according to military sources in both Seoul and Tokyo. South Korea reported the launches around 7:50 a.m., while Japan confirmed at least two missiles had been fired.
Analysts interpret the timing of the launch as a deliberate signal. Lim Eul-chul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies in Seoul, said the test was “a message to China to deter closer ties with South Korea and to counter China’s stance on denuclearization.” He added that Pyongyang also seeks to convey that “we are different from Venezuela” — emphasizing its status as a nuclear-armed state prepared for “aggressive deterrence.”
Bong Youngshik, a visiting professor at Yonsei University, noted that North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un is likely watching international developments with heightened concern. “After seeing what’s happening in Venezuela right now, the person who would be most afraid is Kim Jong Un,” he said, referring to the U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Seoul and Tokyo swiftly condemned the missile tests. South Korea’s presidential office held an emergency security meeting, urging North Korea to halt “provocative acts that violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.” Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the launches as threatening “the peace and security of our country, the region, and the international community,” adding that Tokyo lodged a formal protest and strongly condemned Pyongyang’s actions.
U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific said the missile launches do not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory, or allies, but emphasized that surveillance and vigilance have been strengthened. “Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for further launches,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, confirming close coordination with South Korea and Japan.
The launches come amid North Korea’s accelerated weapons development. On Saturday, state media reported that Kim Jong Un called for more than doubling the production of tactical guided weapons during a visit to a munitions factory. Recent weeks have also seen him inspecting a nuclear-powered submarine and overseeing missile tests, ahead of this year’s Ninth Party Congress, which is expected to outline major policy directions.
President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Beijing aims to promote peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. His agenda includes discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with analysts noting that Seoul hopes to leverage China’s influence over Pyongyang to facilitate dialogue.
Lee emphasized in a CCTV interview that South Korea’s cooperation with the United States should not be seen as a move toward confrontation with China. “This visit to China aims to minimize or eliminate past misunderstandings or contradictions, to elevate and develop South Korea-China relations to a new stage,” he said.
Experts point out that North Korea has so far dismissed South Korea’s diplomatic outreach since Lee took office seven months ago. Lee has previously urged Beijing to intensify efforts to bring Pyongyang back to negotiations, and the missile tests may reflect Pyongyang’s resistance to external pressure amid regional tensions.
As the situation evolves, officials in Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington are monitoring Pyongyang’s next moves closely, with international eyes on China’s role in mediating peace on the peninsula.
