North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, marking its first launch in five months. According to AFP, which cited South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the unidentified missile was launched in an eastward direction. The test took place just days before world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, are expected to gather in South Korea for a regional conference.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was fired eastward but gave no details about how far it travelled or where it landed. North Korea usually conducts missile tests into waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, avoiding any direct damage to neighbouring countries.
Test launch days before major Asia-Pacific Meet
The missile launch happened shortly before South Korea is set to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC), an annual meeting that focuses on economic cooperation and trade in the region. The summit does not include any military discussions.
Trump was expected to visit Gyeongju before the summit for separate meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. However, South Korean officials said he is unlikely to attend the main APEC conference, which will take place from October 30 to November 1, as per an AP report.
Experts see missile test as a political signal
Experts have said that North Korea’s timing may be deliberate, according to AP. They say Pyongyang could be using the missile launch to remind the world of its nuclear ambitions and to push for recognition as a nuclear weapons state. Experts add that such recognition would help North Korean leader Kim Jong Un demand the removal of international sanctions that have hurt his country’s economy.
Kim Jong Un’s renewed weapons push
Kim has sharply increased weapons testing since his talks with Trump collapsed in 2019 over disagreements about US-led sanctions. But recently, Kim has hinted that he could return to negotiations if Washington stops insisting on North Korea’s complete denuclearisation. Trump has also said he remains open to renewed talks.
Earlier this month, Kim showcased a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during a massive military parade in Pyongyang, reported AP. The event, marking 80 years of the ruling Workers’ Party, was attended by top leaders from China, Russia, and other countries.
New missile seen as stronger threat
North Korean state media said the missile displayed at the October 10 parade was the Hwasong-20 ICBM, which is described as the country’s most powerful nuclear weapon system so far. Observers believe the missile can carry multiple nuclear warheads, making it capable of bypassing US missile defence systems.
Experts say Kim sees this growing arsenal as a way to strengthen his bargaining power in any future talks with the United States, reported AP.
