North Korea has launched its first ballistic missile of 2025, firing it into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) on Monday. The launch comes just weeks before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and during a high-profile visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to South Korea, which is currently grappling with a political crisis.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed the launch, identifying the missile as intermediate-range with an estimated flight distance between 3,000 and 5,500 kilometers (1,864 to 3,418 miles). The missile was reportedly fired from the Pyongyang area. Further analysis is underway.
Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office also confirmed the launch, stating that the missile fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Authorities emphasized the need to ensure the safety of aircraft, vessels, and other assets while maintaining readiness for contingencies.
During a press conference in Seoul, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken strongly condemned the missile launch as a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
“This is yet another provocative act by the DPRK,” Blinken said, referring to North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Blinken is in South Korea for a two-day visit, where he met with his counterpart Cho Tae-yul. The officials held talks on regional security and addressed a joint news conference.
Blinken highlighted concerns about North Korea’s growing ties with Russia, alleging that Pyongyang is receiving Russian military equipment and training.
“We believe Moscow intends to share advanced space and satellite technology with Pyongyang,” Blinken warned.
The Secretary of State also criticized North Korea’s continued missile tests despite the Biden administration’s repeated efforts to engage in dialogue. “We have made multiple unconditional offers to engage with the DPRK, but the only response has been more provocative actions, including missile launches,” he added.
This missile test adds to heightened tensions in the region as the world closely watches developments ahead of Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
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