Seoul, October 23: North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, in its first launches in months and just a week before world leaders gather in South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
The missiles, launched from an area near Pyongyang, flew about 350 km (217 miles) before falling inland, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, reversing earlier assessments that they had landed in the sea. South Korea’s military said it had stepped up surveillance and was maintaining “a firm readiness posture” while sharing intelligence with the United States and Japan.
The tests come as South Korea prepares to host Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. President Donald Trump, and other leaders in the southeastern city of Gyeongju for the APEC summit. Analysts said the timing was likely aimed at drawing attention and asserting North Korea’s presence on the global stage.
“Kim Jong Un appears to be signaling his regime’s relevance ahead of an event hosted by Seoul, a pattern seen in past international occasions,” said Park Won-gon, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.
Earlier this month, Kim showcased North Korea’s new long-range Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile, described by state media as its “most powerful,” during a parade marking the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party. The display underscored Pyongyang’s growing regional engagement with China and Russia and its continued drive to enhance its nuclear capabilities.
North Korea last conducted short-range ballistic and cruise missile tests in May, making Wednesday’s launch the first under South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae Myung, who took office in June.
While Pyongyang insists its weapons program is defensive, it has rejected international calls to halt testing. Kim and President Trump met during Trump’s first term, and both sides have recently expressed openness to renewed dialogue, though North Korea has reiterated it will not abandon its nuclear arsenal.
