The military of South Korea announced that North Korea had launched a ballistic missile on Monday which flew for 1,100 kilometers (685 miles) prior to landing between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea condemned this launch as a major threat to regional stability and emphasized that they would step up surveillance as well as work together with the United States and Japan in order to counter this.
This missile was fired near Pyongyang, with U.S. and South Korean intelligence detecting preparations beforehand. Coincidentally, it happened at around the same time when Antony Blinken was visiting Seoul – discussions mainly focussed on matters pertaining to North Korean nuclear threat and other security issues.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un recently pledged implementation of his nation’s “toughest” anti – US policy , criticizing what he termed as an increased US security collaboration between South Korea and Japan whom he called “Nuclear military bloc for aggression.”
South Korea’s tensions are exacerbated by internal political challenges like those posed by President Yoon Suk Yeol who was impeached last month following his brief declaration martial law thereby casting doubt in regard to the country’s diplomatic footing while Donald Trump is about to return into the presidency.
While Trump had three meetings with Kim during his previous term, analysts think there will not be a quick restart of these engagements.
Trump is expected to prioritize the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as North Korea’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine further complicates diplomatic efforts.
Under Yoon’s leadership before his impeachment, South Korea increased its military relations with the U.S., modernized nuclear deterrence tactics, and advanced trilateral partnership with Japan to counter-balance North Korea’s growing provocations.
