North Korea fires ballistic missile in the direction of east, South Korea says

North Korea fired a ballistic missile in an eastward course on Wednesday (October 22, 2025), South Korea’s navy mentioned, the North’s first weapons testing exercise in about 5 months.

A short assertion from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff gave no additional particulars reminiscent of how far the weapon flew.

The missiles from North Korea that had been fired at round 8:10 a.m. (2300 GMT, Tuesday) on Wednesday (October 22, 2025) had been short-range ones, the South Korean navy mentioned in a textual content message to reporters, in line with Reuters.

North Korea normally test-launches missiles within the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, inflicting no injury in neighbouring nations. But the Joint Chiefs of Staff assertion solely mentioned the most recent missile was launched in an eastward course.

The launch comes days earlier than South Korea hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference, an annual summit meant to advertise financial integration and commerce all through the area. It has no navy element. U.S. President Donald Trump was anticipated to come back to Gyeongju forward of the summit for bilateral conferences with world leaders together with Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, however South Korean officers say Mr. Trump gained’t doubtless attend the APEC’s essential convention set for October 30 to November 1.

Experts earlier mentioned North Korea might launch provocative missile exams earlier than or through the APEC summit to underscore its dedication to being recognised as a nuclear weapons state. Experts say North Korea’s chief Kim Jong Un would wish that standing to name for the U.N. to carry punishing financial sanctions on it.

Mr. Kim has been sharply accelerating the tempo of weapons exams since since his high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with Mr. Trump fell aside in 2019 on account of wrangling over U.S.-led financial sanctions on North Korea. But final month, Mr. Kim prompt he might return to talks if the U.S. drops its demand for a denuclearisation of North Korea, after Mr. Trump repeatedly expressed his hopes for a brand new spherical of diplomacy.

Earlier this month, Mr. Kim displayed a brand new intercontinental ballistic missile at a large navy parade in Pyongyang, with prime Chinese, Russian and different leaders current. The parade, which marked the eightieth anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party, highlighted Mr. Kim’s rising diplomatic footing and his relentless drive to construct an arsenal that would strike the U.S. and its allies. Analysts say Mr. Kim would imagine an expanded nuclear arsenal would improve his leverage in potential talks with the U.S.

North Korea’s state media mentioned the October 10 parade featured the Hwasong-20 ICBM, which it described because the nation’s “strongest nuclear strategic weapon system.” Observers mentioned the ICBM is designed to hold a number of nuclear warheads to defeat U.S. missile defences and that North Korea might test-launch it in coming months.

Mr. Kim’s diplomatic credentials have been bolstered not too long ago. He took centre stage with Chinese chief Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Beijing navy parade final month. Mr. Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have additionally repeatedly expressed hopes to fulfill Mr. Kim as he flaunts a provocative nuclear programme.