SEOUL, South Korea — On Monday, North Korea launched a ballistic missile that traveled approximately 1,100 kilometers (around 685 miles) before crashing into waters situated between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, as reported by South Korea’s military. This missile test extends North Korea’s pattern of weaponry trials just weeks before Donald Trump is anticipated to return to the U.S. presidency.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff indicated that the missile was launched from an area close to North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang. They confirmed that U.S. and South Korean military forces detected preparations for the launch beforehand. This recent act was condemned as a provocation that presents a grave risk to peace and stability in the Korean region.
In response to the missile test, South Korea’s military has heightened its monitoring and defense coordination, bracing itself for any potential future launches. Japan’s Defense Ministry reported that the missile fell outside its exclusive economic zone, with no incidents reported affecting any vessels or aircraft.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed concern about North Korea’s intensified missile testing, which he believes is advancing its capabilities. The previous year saw North Korea test several nuclear-capable systems that pose threats to both its neighbors and the USA, including a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile that achieved unprecedented altitude and flight duration for the nation.
The missile launch coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Seoul for discussions with South Korean allies concerning the North Korean nuclear threat among other matters. Blinken’s visit is particularly significant given the political unrest in South Korea, a nation still grappling with the recent turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief martial law declaration and subsequent parliamentary impeachment last month. This political instability may hinder the country’s ability to establish a solid rapport with Trump before his expected return to the White House.
During a press briefing alongside South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, Blinken denounced North Korea’s recent missile test as a breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions. He also voiced worries regarding the strengthening ties between North Korea and Russia, particularly in the context of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Reports from the U.S., Ukraine, and South Korea indicate that North Korea has provided over 10,000 troops and conventional weaponry to bolster Russia’s military actions. There are apprehensions that Russia might reciprocate by supplying North Korea with advanced military technology, further elevating the threat level posed by Kim Jong Un’s nuclear forces.
Blinken characterized the military relationship between Russia and North Korea as a “two-way street,” noting that Russia is supplying military assistance and training while planning to share space and satellite technology with the North.
Both Blinken and Cho dismissed worries regarding any deterioration of the U.S.-South Korea alliance stemming from the political upheaval in Seoul. Experts have cautioned that Yoon’s brief martial law — despite its short duration — has unsettled political affairs, diplomacy, and financial markets for several weeks, showcasing the fragility of democracy in a divided South Korean society.
“We had serious concerns about some of the actions that President Yoon took and we communicated those directly to the government,” stated Blinken. “However, we maintain great confidence in the resilience of South Korea’s democracy, its institutional strength, and its commitment to resolving issues peacefully through constitutional processes and the rule of law.”
During a year-end political conference, Kim Jong Un committed to enforcing a “tough” anti-U.S. stance and criticized the Biden administration’s attempts to enhance security collaboration with South Korea and Japan, labeling it a “nuclear military bloc for aggression.” North Korean state media, however, did not elaborate on specific policy proposals or comments related to Trump. Throughout Trump’s first presidency, he engaged in diplomatic talks with Kim regarding the North’s nuclear agenda.
Even with Trump possibly returning to the presidency, experts suggest a swift revival of diplomacy with North Korea may be improbable. Kim’s bolstered authority—thanks to an expanded nuclear arsenal, a closer alliance with Russia, and the declining enforcement of U.S. sanctions—complicates any potential resolution to the nuclear standoff.
It remains uncertain whether Trump would take a proactive stance like Biden toward strengthening U.S. alliances in Asia. During his previous administration, Trump frequently expressed concerns over the financial burden of maintaining 28,000 U.S. troops in South Korea, advocating for increased defense spending contributions from Seoul. Additionally, there are worries that Trump’s “America First” strategy could negatively impact South Korea’s trade interests through higher tariffs and other barriers.
