North Korea's ballistic missile test comes days before the APEC summit in South Korea, escalating regional tensions. Image: Alwaght.
(The Post News)– North Korea fired several Hwasong short-range ballistic missiles early on Wednesday, heightening tensions in the region just before South Korea is set to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) previously confirmed that the missiles were fired at around 8:10 a.m. from a location south of Pyongyang. The projectiles flew around 350 kilometers in a northeastern trajectory and are thought to have landed in the East Sea. But South Korean news sites later reported that the missiles would have impacted inland.
The launch is North Korea’s initial ballistic missile test since last May and follows as global leaders, such as U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, head to South Korea for the APEC summit in Gyeongju next week.
Lee Responds to First Major Security Test
President Lee Jae-myung, inaugurated in June on a platform of non-violent engagement with Pyongyang, convened an emergency National Security Council meeting following the launch. His administration promised to intensify military monitoring and act in close coordination with the United States and Japan.
“This launch undermines stability in the region and erodes efforts toward peace on the Korean Peninsula,” a South Korean presidential office spokesman said. Lee, a longtime supporter of dialogue with the North, recently invoked in his initial UN General Assembly speech a call for new denuclearization talks. Wednesday’s missile test now challenges that diplomatic approach.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae explained the situation just moments after the launch, asserting that no missiles had crossed into Japan’s territorial waters or airspace. “We are monitoring closely and offering real-time information to the U.S. and South Korea,” she declared. “No damage has been reported thus far.”
Japan remains on high alert, with defense systems ready in anticipation of any future launches. Analysts indicate the missile launch was timed to coincide with next week’s APEC leaders’ summit. Diplomats indicate that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is sending the message that the North is not going to be quiet as inter-Korean diplomatic negotiations are taking place in Seoul.
“Kim is making his government relevant at an international forum hosted by a counterpart state,” said Ewha Womans University Professor Park Won-gon in Seoul. “It’s a strategic move to become a game-changer.” North Korea last week revealed a new intercontinental ballistic missile, Hwasong-20, in a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party. The top delegations from Russia and China attended the parade, further fueling Pyongyang’s drive to realign itself with the world’s leading powers.
Diplomatic Uncertainty Ahead of Trump Visit
President Trump, who will be arriving in South Korea for the summit, last sat down with Kim three times between 2019 and 2018. Their diplomacy ultimately broke down because of a deadlock on sanctions and denuclearization. In his recent remarks, Trump hinted at interest in sitting down with Kim again if the North is cooperative. North Korea responded by saying that it still wanted to negotiate, but only if the U.S. eliminates its denuclearization requirement.
The U.S. officials refused to confirm that Trump would visit the DMZ or meet directly with Kim. South Korea temporarily suspended tours of the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom until early November in the meantime. With the APEC summit nearing only a few days from now, regional security concerns now top the agendas of talks set for economic and trade cooperation. Analysts warn that North Korea will most likely carry out more provocations to establish its demands and position in the world.
“North Korea’s missile test is not just a military move; it’s a political message,” Victor Cha of the Center for Strategic and International Studies stated. “It reminds everyone that denuclearization talks must remain on the table.” With leaders gathering in Seoul, everyone now waits to see how President Lee and the world as a whole respond to Pyongyang’s latest act of defiance.
About the Author
