Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
As Asia prepares for a major regional summit, tensions have once again flared on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea’s military said on Wednesday that North Korea had fired what appeared to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles, Reuters reports. The launches were the first since May, breaking a months-long lull and defying a long-standing United Nations Security Council ban.
The latest test comes just days before South Korea hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, a gathering expected to draw U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
It is also the first missile launch since Lee Jae Myung became South Korea’s president, having pledged to pursue renewed engagement with Pyongyang.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul, several projectiles were detected early Wednesday, launched from near Pyongyang toward the northeast. Military officials tracked the missiles as they traveled about 350 kilometers before landing inland.
Diplomatic speculation
President Lee and President Trump have reportedly discussed the possibility of meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during Trump’s upcoming visit, though Pyongyang has made no public comment. Plans for Trump to visit the heavily guarded Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) have been considered but not confirmed, according to officials familiar with the discussions.
In anticipation of heightened security, South Korea has suspended tours of the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom until early November. Officials have not confirmed whether any direct meeting with Kim is on the agenda.
Trump and Kim held three high-profile summits during Trump’s first term, exchanging what Trump famously described as “beautiful” letters. However, talks ultimately stalled over Washington’s insistence that North Korea abandon its nuclear arsenal.
Lingering ties and doubts
In September, Kim Jong Un spoke warmly of Trump, recalling “fond memories” of their past meetings. He reiterated that North Korea would not surrender its nuclear weapons in exchange for an end to sanctions, though he left the door open for dialogue if the U.S. eased its demands.
Victor Cha, from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Trump’s unpredictable diplomacy could again come into play. “It is not at all inconceivable that Donald Trump could here in Washington, D.C., say, ‘Denuclearisation, that’s our goal, that’s our policy,’ and then go up to Panmunjom and say, ‘Oh, you know, Kim Jong Un is a nuclear power,’” he said.
Andrew Yeo, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, noted that Trump’s schedule might make a new meeting unlikely. “Trump’s only there for one night, two days, and because of the Xi-Trump meeting, that’s probably taking up all the bandwidth or resources of the U.S. government,” he said.
Regional reaction
Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said the North Korean missile launches posed no immediate threat to Japan’s security. Tokyo, she added, was sharing real-time information with Washington as a precaution.
The launches mark another step in North Korea’s long-term push to enhance its weapons capabilities. Over the past decade, Pyongyang has repeatedly tested missiles with increasing range, defying global sanctions and warnings. Earlier this month, it showcased its newest intercontinental ballistic missile during a military parade attended by China’s premier.
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, which may have used AI in the preparation
