North Korea's Defiant Missile Launch Amid APEC Summit Anticipation
North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday, defying an international ban. The launch came a week before the APEC leaders' meeting in South Korea. The missiles were detected and tracked by South Korea's military, who shared information with the U.S. and Japan.
In a bold move ahead of the critical Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, North Korea fired what appeared to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles. The launch was a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions in the region, coming as leaders prepare to gather in South Korea next week.
South Korea's military detected and tracked these projectiles, launching an immediate response in collaboration with the United States and Japan. The missiles, which emerged near Pyongyang, traveled approximately 350 kilometers before seemingly landing inland, as confirmed by their Joint Chiefs of Staff.
South Korea's President convened an urgent security meeting following the incident. Meanwhile, Japan assured there was no direct threat to its security, emphasizing continued real-time information sharing with its allies as North Korea persists in defying international sanctions.