North Korea fired at least two missiles for the first time in two months, coinciding with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's official visit to China. Experts emphasize this as a demonstration of military capability ahead of the Workers' Party congress, deliberately showcasing nuclear weapons readiness to counter threats and declaring that North Korea is "different from Venezuela."
On the morning of Sunday, 4 January, North Korea conducted at least two missile tests, which fell into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. This marked the first such launch in two months. The operation occurred at a critical time as South Korean President Lee Jae-myung began his official visit to China to meet President Xi Jinping. It also took place just hours after the United States launched an attack and arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Experts from the East Asia Institute in Seoul analyzed that this missile launch sent a message to China aiming to block efforts to strengthen ties with South Korea, as well as a response to China's stance on nuclear disarmament.
At the same time, it served as a direct signal to U.S. President Donald Trump that "North Korea is different from Venezuela." North Korea aims to emphasize its status as a military power possessing nuclear weapons and its readiness to respond forcefully if threatened in a manner similar to what happened in Venezuela.
The South Korean and Japanese militaries stated that the missiles were launched from the Pyongyang area at approximately 07:50 local time, traveling about 900 kilometers. Japan reported at least two missiles flying roughly 900 and 950 kilometers respectively. This aligns with earlier reports that Kim Jong-un inspected weapons factories and ordered an "increase in tactical guided weapon production by more than 2.5 times" to prepare for the upcoming 9th Workers' Party congress, which will set the country’s key policy directions.
The South Korean presidential office convened an emergency security meeting immediately, condemning the launches as violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Meanwhile, Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the act as a severe threat to regional and global peace and lodged a strong protest with North Korea. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command stated that the incident does not pose a direct threat to U.S. personnel or territory but is coordinating closely with allies.
This weapons test reflects that Kim Jong-un is employing proactive measures to strengthen his bargaining power on the global stage amid a period of significant shifts in international political dynamics.