North Korea fires missiles ahead of Trump’s visit to South Korea

North Korea launched a new round of missiles Tuesday — just hours before President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea. — Image credit: Getty Images

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Summary

Before key visit

North Korea reportedly launched missiles just hours before President Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea.

Trump offers to meet Kim

The test comes as North Korea has yet to respond to Trump’s offers to meet the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un.

Second test in less than a week

This is the second reported missile launch by North Korea in less than a week.

Full story

North Korea launched a new round of missiles Tuesday — just hours before President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea — according to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency. The missiles marked the regime’s second weapons test in less than a week.

They were fired ahead of Trump’s scheduled meeting in the city of Gyeongju as part of his multi-nation Asia tour and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

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Nuclear-capable missiles launched

North Korea reportedly fired sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Officials said the missiles flew for more than two hours before striking their target.

Pyongyang’s military called the test a success, describing it as part of its “duty to ceaselessly tough its nuclear combat posture.”

No response yet to Trump’s offer to meet

The launch came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has yet to respond to Trump’s recent offer to meet. Kim says he will not meet with the president unless Washington drops its push for denuclearization.

“I’d love to meet with him if he’d like to meet,” Trump told reporters Monday. “If he wants to meet, I’ll be in South Korea.”

The two leaders have not held fact-to-face talks since Trump’s first term.

Timing raises tensions

The latest test underscores the heightened tension surrounding his diplomatic tour. It follows North Korea’s test of two hypersonic missiles last week, which the South Korean military classified as short-range ballistic missiles.

North Korea’s deepening ties with Russia

Trump’s outreach also comes as Pyongyang strengthens its alliances with Moscow.

North Korea has reportedly supplied troops and munitions to Russia’s war in Ukraine, in exchange for oil, weapons technology and a mutual defense pact pledging support if either nation is attacked.

Analysts say Kim is betting those ties will give his regime more leverage to resist U.S. pressure to scale back its nuclear ambitions.

Evan Hummel (Producer)

Evan Hummel is a producer for Straight Arrow News based in Nebraska. He takes pride in helping others navigate the world of news, with an emphasis on clarity, context and facts.

Jason Morrell (Morning Managing Editor) and Julia Marshall (Morning Digital Producer) contributed to this report.

Tags: Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un, North Korea

Why this story matters

North Korea's launch of nuclear-capable cruise missiles during President Donald Trump's Asia visit highlights rising military tensions and the shifting geopolitical landscape involving the US, North Korea and Russia. The event underscores challenges to denuclearization efforts and broader regional stability.

Military escalation

North Korea's missile launches during a high-profile US diplomatic tour demonstrate increased military assertiveness and pose challenges to regional security and diplomatic engagement.

US-North Korea diplomacy

President Trump’s willingness to meet with Kim Jong Un amid ongoing tensions reflects continued efforts at negotiation, although progress is hindered by disagreements over denuclearization.

North Korea-Russia relations

North Korea’s growing ties with Russia, including reported exchanges of military support and defense agreements, illustrate shifting alliances that may impact global power dynamics and complicate US efforts in the region.

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Context corner

North Korea has a history of conducting weapons tests near high-profile diplomatic events, often to signal military readiness or express dissatisfaction with diplomatic developments. These launches occur amid a prolonged freeze in direct US-North Korea talks since 2019.

Oppo research

Opponents of North Korea’s actions, particularly in the US and South Korea, promote maintaining or strengthening sanctions and military readiness, expressing skepticism about North Korea’s intentions and highlighting the risks of further provocations.

Policy impact

The missile launches reinforce calls in the US and South Korea for continued defense cooperation and defense readiness. They may also impact regional policy debates on military spending and strategies regarding North Korea.

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Sources

Bias comparison

Media outlets on the left frame North Korea's missile test as a "provocation" and "calculated" act, using terms like "touts" and "ahead" to imply a direct challenge to Trump's diplomatic efforts.
Media outlets in the center Use neutral language like "fires," and provide a broader context, linking the event to "stalled diplomacy" and Russia ties.
Media outlets on the right also employ "touts" but escalate the threat, frequently asserting the missiles are "part of nuclear arsenal" from a "China-backed U.S. adversary," emphasizing national security.

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Media landscape

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194 total sources

Key points from the Left

North Korea said it fired sea-to-surface cruise missiles into its western waters, marking a display of military capabilities as U.S. President Donald Trump visits South Korea for a summit.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that the missiles flew for over two hours before accurately hitting targets.
The tests aimed to expand the operational capacity of North Korea's nuclear-armed military, according to the official report.
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has shifted his foreign policy focus to Russia, stating he will not engage in talks with the U.S. without the lifting of denuclearization demands.

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Key points from the Center

North Korea test-fired several sea-to-surface cruise missiles into its western waters to coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to South Korea.
The test was claimed to expand the operational sphere of North Korea's nuclear-armed forces, but South Korea's military did not immediately confirm the launches.
Trump suggested he might be open to recognizing North Korea as a nuclear power, saying, "they got a lot of nuclear weapons."

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See Hide headlines from Center sources 67 sources

Key points from the Right

North Korea announced it test-fired sea-to-surface cruise missiles ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
The missiles flew for over two hours along a designated route and hit their targets, demonstrating North Korea's military capabilities.
Pak Jong-chon, a North Korean military official, stated that significant progress has been made in developing the country's nuclear forces.
South Korea's military detected the missile launch and is analyzing the situation while maintaining a defense posture with the U.S.

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