North Korea Fires Missiles as Trump Plans Visit to South Korea

Post by : Saif Nasser

North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles early on Wednesday, just days before U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. South Korea’s military said the missiles were launched from an area near Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, and flew toward the northeast.

It was North Korea’s first missile launch since May and came as regional tensions rise ahead of Trump’s trip. The launch also marked the first military test since South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae Myung, took office, promising a policy of peaceful engagement with the North.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that several projectiles believed to be short-range ballistic missiles were detected. They traveled about 350 kilometers (around 217 miles) before falling inland. Japan confirmed it detected the launch but said it posed no immediate threat to its security.

Japan’s Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, said Tokyo was sharing real-time information with the United States to track any new movements from North Korea.

Trump Prepares for Asia Visit

President Trump is expected to visit South Korea next week as part of his trip to the APEC summit, where he will also meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. During his visit, Trump may also consider a possible meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, although nothing has been confirmed yet.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Trump have reportedly discussed the idea of arranging such a meeting, but North Korea has not publicly responded. According to U.S. officials, there were early talks about Trump visiting the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, but no final decision has been made.

South Korea has temporarily suspended public tours at Panmunjom, the border village inside the DMZ, until early November, fueling speculation that preparations could be underway for a high-level visit.

History of Trump-Kim Relations

Trump and Kim Jong Un held three historic summits between 2018 and 2019 during Trump’s first term, breaking decades of hostility between Washington and Pyongyang. The two leaders exchanged several letters, which Trump described as “beautiful.” However, the talks collapsed over U.S. demands for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for lifting sanctions.

Since then, relations have cooled, but Kim has recently made warmer comments about Trump. In September, Kim said he had “fond memories” of Trump and would be open to talks if the U.S. stopped insisting that North Korea abandon its nuclear arsenal. However, Kim made it clear he would never completely give up his country’s nuclear weapons.

Experts say that while another Trump-Kim meeting is not impossible, it remains uncertain. Victor Cha, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Trump might still try to engage Kim during his visit. “It wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, even if it’s a short meeting,” Cha said.

Andrew Yeo from the Brookings Institution added that Trump’s busy schedule could make it difficult. “He’s only in South Korea for one night and two days, and the meeting with Xi Jinping will take most of his time,” Yeo said.

North Korea Defies Sanctions

North Korea is banned by the United Nations Security Council from developing or testing ballistic missiles, but it has continued to defy these restrictions for years. The country has been steadily improving its missile technology and now claims to possess long-range missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

South Korean officials said they had detected movements near Pyongyang before Wednesday’s launch, suggesting that the North’s military had been preparing the test for several days. The missiles launched on Wednesday appeared to be short-range weapons designed for regional strikes rather than long-range ones.

North Korea last fired ballistic missiles on May 8, launching several projectiles from its east coast into the sea. Earlier this month, Pyongyang also showed off its newest intercontinental ballistic missile during a military parade attended by the Chinese premier, demonstrating its growing missile capabilities despite international pressure.

Regional Reactions and Concerns

The latest missile launch is seen by many analysts as a message to both the U.S. and South Korea ahead of the upcoming APEC summit. With Trump, Xi, and other regional leaders set to meet, North Korea may be trying to remind the world of its military power and force its way back into diplomatic talks.

So far, neither Washington nor Pyongyang has commented directly on the launch. However, experts believe that North Korea’s actions are part of its long-standing strategy to gain attention before major international events, hoping to use military provocations as leverage for political discussions.

The South Korean government called an emergency security meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss the situation. President Lee said that while he remains committed to dialogue, North Korea’s actions are “unhelpful and dangerous” at a time when peace efforts should be prioritized.

U.S. defense officials said they were “closely monitoring” the situation in coordination with allies in the region, including Japan and South Korea.

A Test for Trump’s Diplomacy

As Trump prepares for his Asia trip, the missile launch highlights the challenges he faces in dealing with North Korea once again. His earlier meetings with Kim raised hopes of peace but ended without real progress on denuclearization.

Now, with rising global tensions — including the war in Ukraine, instability in Gaza, and strained U.S.-China relations — Trump’s return to Asia comes at a sensitive moment.

Analysts say the North Korean missile test could either complicate or revive diplomacy, depending on how Trump chooses to respond. If he seeks another direct meeting with Kim, it could mark a new chapter in U.S.-North Korea relations. But if he responds harshly, tensions could rise again on the Korean Peninsula.