Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have flared once again after North Korea launched a series of cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, just hours before former U.S. President Donald Trump’s highly anticipated visit to South Korea.
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the missiles were fired toward the western coast of the Korean Peninsula and “accurately hit their designated targets after traveling a predetermined distance.” The agency noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was not present during the test but emphasized that the launches were part of the regime’s ongoing weapons development plan.
Trump is scheduled to arrive in the city of Gyeongju today to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where he is expected to meet privately with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the event.
Speaking after the missile launch, Pak Jong Chon, Vice Chairman of North Korea’s Central Military Commission, hailed the test as a “significant achievement” in strengthening the nation’s “nuclear forces,” underscoring that the country’s defense advancements were proceeding “according to the strategic plan of the Party leadership.”
The latest missile activity comes amid a renewed period of military escalation in East Asia. Observers say Pyongyang’s timing — coinciding with Trump’s visit — sends a deliberate political message, signaling North Korea’s intent to remain a central player in regional power dynamics despite international sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
The South Korean government has yet to issue a formal response, but defense officials in Seoul are reportedly monitoring the situation closely in coordination with U.S. and Japanese allies.
