North Korea said Tuesday it test-fired several sea-to-surface cruise missiles into its western waters, a show of military strength timed to coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea for a regional summit.
Why It Matters
The announcement came hours before Trump was set to meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in the city of Gyeongju, where South Korea is hosting this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said senior military official Pak Jong Chon attended the test and inspected new naval destroyers, which leader Kim Jong Un has touted as vital to strengthening the country’s navy.
What To Know
KCNA said Tuesday’s launches were successful, claiming the missiles flew for more than two hours before striking their intended targets. The report said the test would “expand the operational sphere” of the country’s nuclear-armed forces. South Korea’s military did not immediately confirm the launches.
The launches follow North Korea’s tests of short-range ballistic missiles last week, which it said involved a new hypersonic weapon intended to bolster its nuclear deterrent. Although Trump has said he is open to meeting Kim during his South Korea trip, Seoul officials have said such a meeting is unlikely. North Korea has avoided talks with Washington and Seoul since Trump’s first-term nuclear diplomacy with Kim collapsed in 2019.
In recent months, Kim has deepened ties with Russia, sending troops and military equipment to support President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine while aligning himself with what he calls a “new Cold War” against the U.S. and its allies.
What People Are Saying
Trump, speaking with reporters as he departed for the first tour of Asia of his second term, suggested he might be open to recognizing North Korea as a nuclear power: “When you say they have to be recognized as a nuclear power—well, they got a lot of nuclear weapons. I'll say that," he said when asked about Kim's insistence that recognition is a prerequisite for reengaging in talks with Washington.
An official at the office of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stressed Washington and Seoul continue to pursue the goal of denuclearization: "South Korea and the U.S. are closely cooperating in accordance with their joint goal of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."
What Happens Next
Trump, who arrived in Japan on Monday, will depart for Seoul on Wednesday to meet with Lee before delivering a speech the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The president is also scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday in Busan, South Korea, for a long-anticipated dialogue.
Updates: 10/28/25, 8:15 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
SOURCE :newsweek.com