6th January 2025 – (Seoul) North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile into its eastern waters on Monday, according to South Korea’s military. This missile test marks the continuation of North Korea’s increased weapons activity as the country moves into 2025, coinciding with Donald Trump’s impending return to the U.S. presidency.
The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately disclose the number of missiles fired or their flight distances.
This missile launch occurred during the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Seoul, where he was engaging in discussions with South Korean officials regarding the North Korean nuclear threat and other pressing matters.
Blinken’s trip comes amidst political instability in South Korea, following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief martial law decree and subsequent impeachment by parliament last month. Analysts suggest that this turmoil may hinder the country’s ability to establish a stable relationship with Trump as he prepares to re-enter the White House.
In a year-end political conference, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to adopt the “toughest” stance against the U.S. and condemned the Biden administration’s efforts to bolster security collaboration with Seoul and Tokyo, labelling it a “nuclear military bloc for aggression.”
While North Korean state media did not elaborate on Kim’s policy strategies or make specific remarks regarding Trump, it is noteworthy that during Trump’s first term, he engaged in three meetings with Kim to discuss North Korea’s nuclear programme.
Experts, however, express scepticism about the quick resumption of Kim-Trump summits, anticipating that Trump will prioritise conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East first. Additionally, North Korea’s backing of Russia’s actions in Ukraine complicates efforts to revive diplomatic discussions, according to analysts.
