North Korea Fires Missiles Amid Rising Tensions Ahead of Trump’s Return

North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Tuesday, South Korea’s military reported. The missiles, fired from Kanggye, Jagang Province, near the Chinese border, traveled approximately 250 km (155 miles) and lifted off around 9:30 a.m. local time.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) condemned the test as a "clear provocation" threatening the Korean peninsula's peace and stability. Seoul’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok criticized the launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and vowed a strong response. South Korea’s national security council pledged to maintain an "airtight posture" to address further provocations.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed Tokyo was closely monitoring the situation in coordination with South Korea and the U.S., emphasizing real-time data sharing. The test coincided with a visit by Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who joined South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in condemning Pyongyang’s weapons program and advocating stronger security ties.

The missile launch followed North Korea’s recent test of an intermediate-range hypersonic missile, marking the first such event since November. Analysts believe these tests aim to showcase Pyongyang’s military capabilities while drawing attention from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, set to return to office. During his previous term, Trump held unprecedented talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Seoul last week, called for deeper trilateral cooperation between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan to counter growing threats from North Korea. South Korean lawmakers suggest these actions are part of Pyongyang’s strategy to deter U.S. influence and project power.

The launch underscores escalating tensions as global powers seek to address North Korea’s advancing missile and nuclear programs.