North Korea fires missiles in provocative show of strength amid global tensions
North Korea launched multiple missiles into eastern waters on Tuesday, marking its second missile test of 2025.

North Korea launched multiple missiles into eastern waters on Tuesday, marking its second missile test of 2025. South Korea’s military reported that the short-range ballistic missiles were fired from a northern inland area, traveling approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned the launch, calling it a “clear provocation” that poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability. In response, South Korea has bolstered surveillance efforts, sharing information with both U.S. and Japanese military forces.
This launch follows closely after a January 6 test of a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile designed by North Korea to target distant regions, particularly in the Pacific. Leader Kim Jong Un has signaled his intention to further expand the country’s nuclear arsenal as part of his efforts to counter rival nations.
The recent missile test is part of a larger pattern of increased weapons testing in 2024, with North Korea unveiling advanced solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland and short-range missiles designed to bypass South Korean missile defenses. There are growing concerns that these advancements could be fueled by technology transfers from Russia, as both countries strengthen their alignment amid the war in Ukraine.
In a year-end address, Kim Jong Un vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy, criticizing the Biden administration’s push for closer security cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo, which he described as forming a “nuclear military bloc for aggression.”
While North Korean state media did not provide further details on Kim’s plans or any specific comments about former U.S. President Donald Trump, his administration had previously engaged in nuclear negotiations with Kim. However, experts suggest that should Trump return to the White House, a quick resumption of diplomacy may be unlikely, as Kim’s increasingly fortified position, enhanced by his nuclear capabilities and growing ties with Russia, complicates efforts to resolve the ongoing nuclear crisis.