North Korea launches ballistic missiles hours before South Korean president’s trip to China

North Korea launched several ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Sunday, according to South Korean officials. The launches took place just hours before the South Korean president left for China for negotiations expected to focus on North Korea’s nuclear program.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that they detected several ballistic missile launches from the North Korean capital region around 7:50 a.m. They said the missiles traveled about 560 miles and that South Korean and U.S. authorities were analyzing details of the launches.

The US Indo-Pacific Command, a branch of the US armed forces operating in that region, said there was no “immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or to our allies”.

“We are aware of missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners,” the command said in a statement. statement. “Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, nor to our allies. The United States remains committed to the defense of its American homeland and our allies in the region.”

At the same time, the South Korean Defense Ministry stressed that the launches violated UN Security Council resolutions banning all ballistic activity by North Korea. He urged North Korea to immediately stop its provocative actions and respond to South Korea’s pressure to restart talks and restore peace to the Korean Peninsula.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said at least two missile launches by North Korea had been confirmed. “They constitute a serious problem, threatening the peace and security of our nation, the region and the world,” Koizumi told reporters.

The launches are the latest weapons demonstration by North Korea in recent weeks. Experts say North Korea wants to show off or review its defense achievements before the next ruling party congress, the first of its kind in five years. Observers are watching the Workers’ Party congress to see if North Korea will establish a new policy toward the United States and resume long-stalled negotiations between the two countries.

North Korea has focused on testing activities to expand its nuclear arsenal since its leader Kim Jong Un’s failed summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. Kim has also boosted his diplomatic credentials by aligning with Russia over its war in Ukraine and closer ties with China. Observers say Kim would believe his influence has grown sharply to extract concessions from Trump if they resume negotiations.

North Korea has not announced when it will hold the congress, but South Korean intelligence said it would likely take place in January or February.

Sunday’s launches also came hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left for China for a summit with President Xi Jinping. During the four-day trip, Lee’s office said he would ask China, North Korea’s main ally and major trading partner, to play “a constructive role” in efforts to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea and the United States have long called on China to exert influence over North Korea to persuade it to return to negotiations or abandon its nuclear program. But questions arise about the extent of China’s influence over its socialist neighbor. China, alongside Russia, has also repeatedly blocked attempts by the United States and other countries to strengthen economic sanctions against North Korea in recent years.

Later Sunday, South Korea called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to discuss North Korea’s missile launches. The council reported to Lee details of the launches and unspecified South Korean moves, according to the presidential office.

These launches follow Saturday’s dramatic US military operation. who ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from power and brought him to the United States to face narcoterrorism conspiracy charges. This is America’s most assertive action to achieve regime change in any country since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry criticized the U.S. operation on Sunday, saying it once again shows “the rogue and brutal nature of the United States.” A statement from the ministry said it denounced the US act as “the most serious form of encroachment on sovereignty”.

“Kim Jong Un might feel vindicated in his efforts to build a nuclear deterrent, as he probably did after Trump’s strikes on Iran,” said Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Women’s University in Seoul. “However, leaders of hostile regimes will likely live with greater paranoia after seeing how quickly Maduro was expelled from his country to face trial in the United States.”

The official Korean News Agency said Sunday that Kim visited an arms factory on Saturday to examine the precision-guided multi-purpose weapons being produced there. KCNA cited Kim as ordering authorities to increase current production capacity by about 2.5 times.

Last Sunday, North Korea tested what it calls long-range strategic cruise missiles. On December 25, North Korea released photos showing apparent progress in building its first nuclear-powered submarine.