BREAKING NEWSBREAKING NEWS,
Specialists have cautioned that North Korea might conduct provocative missile launches either shortly before or during the forthcoming APEC summit in South Korea.
Published On 22 Oct 2025
South Korea’s defense forces have confirmed that North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile into the waters off its eastern shoreline, marking the first such test in several months.
This missile activity occurred on Wednesday morning, just days ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled to take place in Gyeongju, South Korea. The summit will host prominent figures including Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, among other global leaders.
According to South Korean military sources, the projectile was an “unidentified ballistic missile” directed toward the East Sea, also referred to as the Sea of Japan, as reported by the official Yonhap news agency.
Prior to this, North Korea’s last missile tests in the region were short-range ballistic and cruise missile launches on May 8 and May 22. This recent launch is notable as the first under the administration of South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae-myung, who assumed office in June.
Analysts had anticipated that Pyongyang might conduct missile tests around the time of the APEC summit to assert its status as a nuclear-armed nation, according to reports from the Associated Press.
Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unveiled the Hwasong-20, a new long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) touted as the country’s most formidable weapon, during a grand military parade in Pyongyang. The event was attended by high-ranking officials from China, Russia, and other nations.
The parade commemorated the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea and underscored Kim’s expanding diplomatic influence regionally and globally, alongside his ongoing efforts to develop advanced nuclear-capable weaponry.
Pyongyang has consistently dismissed international restrictions on its weapons programs, maintaining that such developments are essential for defending the nation against perceived threats from the United States and South Korea.
During his first term, President Trump engaged in historic meetings with Kim Jong Un and has recently expressed interest in holding another summit, potentially within this year.
North Korea has indicated that Kim remains open to dialogue with Trump, but firmly insists that it will never relinquish its trump-threats-bagram-airbase/” title=”Afghan Taliban Defies …'s Threats, Vows to Reclaim Bagram Airbase”>nuclear arsenal.
