North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles early Wednesday, just a week before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea. This information comes from the South Korean military.
This marks Pyongyang’s first ballistic missile launch since May. It is also the first launch since President Lee Jae Myung took office on a platform promoting renewed engagement with the North.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said several projectiles, believed to be short-range ballistic missiles, were fired from near Pyongyang in a northeasterly direction. The missiles reportedly flew about 350 kilometres (217 miles) before landing inland. The statement added these details.
The launch violates United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting North Korea from testing ballistic missile technology. The missile tests come just days before U.S. President Donald Trump is set to visit South Korea for the APEC leaders’ summit. He is expected to meet both President Lee and Chinese President Xi Jinping there.
🚀 North Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles
North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, marking its first missile launch since President Lee Jae Myung assumed office in June, according to media https://t.co/VK7IIGDQi2 pic.twitter.com/4vUP6zsSYp
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) October 22, 2025South Korea and the United States have reportedly discussed a possible meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. However, Pyongyang has not officially responded.
While the U.S. considered a potential stop at the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, no confirmation has been made. In preparation for the high-profile summit, tours of the Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom have been temporarily suspended. This suspension is set to last until early November.
Read: North Korean Staff Clean Kim Jong Un’s Traces After Puting Meeting
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that there is no security impact. Japan is sharing real-time data with the US. South Korea detected pre-launch movements.
North Korea has upgraded missile capabilities, test-firing ICBMs capable of reaching the US mainland. Kim Jong Un expressed openness to Trump talks without denuclearisation demands. Previous Trump-Kim summits (2018–2019) failed over nuclear issues.
