North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles Ahead of South Korean President’s China Visit, Raising Global Tensions

In a fresh escalation of geopolitical tensions, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles on Sunday, coinciding with the start of an official visit to china by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. The timing of the launch has heightened concerns across East Asia, as Beijing remains Pyongyang’s most important ally and a key player in regional diplomacy.

The missile tests came just hours after the United States carried out military strikes in Venezuela and detained President Nicolás Maduro, an action that has already unsettled global markets and diplomatic relations. According to officials, North Korea fired at least two missiles—its first ballistic missile launch in nearly two months—further amplifying fears of a widening international security crisis.

South Korea confirmed that President Lee’s visit to Beijing would include a high-level summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula expected to be central topics of discussion.

Lim Eul-chul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies in Seoul, said the missile launches—fired from near Pyongyang into waters between the Korean Peninsula and japan—were a calculated geopolitical signal.

“This is a message to China,” Lim explained, “aimed at discouraging closer ties between Beijing and Seoul, and at pushing back against China’s stance on denuclearization.”

“We Are Different From Venezuela”: North Korea’s Strategic Message

According to analysts, Pyongyang also intended to draw a sharp contrast between itself and Venezuela in the wake of US military action there.

“North Korea wants to make it clear that it is different from Venezuela,” Lim said. “It is a military and nuclear state capable of using what it calls ‘aggressive deterrence’ in response to perceived threats.”

Bong Youngshik, a visiting professor at Yonsei University, suggested that recent global developments may have deeply influenced North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

“After watching what is happening in Venezuela right now,” Bong said, “the person who would be most afraid is Kim Jong Un.”

The missile launches were swiftly condemned by both South Korea and Japan.

South Korea’s presidential office said an emergency security meeting was convened, during which North Korea was urged to immediately halt “provocative acts that violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.”

Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi warned that the launches posed a serious threat.

“These missile launches endanger the peace and security of Japan, the surrounding region, and the international community,” Koizumi said, adding that Tokyo had lodged a strong protest with Pyongyang.

US Forces Korea also issued a statement, saying the missile launches did not pose an immediate threat.

“This event does not present an immediate danger to US personnel, territory, or our allies,” the statement said, while confirming that Washington was in close consultation with regional partners.

Kim Jong Un Flexes Military Muscle Ahead of Key Party Congress

According to South Korea’s military, the missiles were launched at approximately 7:50 am local time (2250 GMT Saturday) and traveled around 900 kilometers. Japanese authorities estimated the range at between 900 and 950 kilometers.

North Korea last conducted a ballistic missile test on November 7, making the latest launch a notable departure from recent relative quiet.

State media in North Korea reported that Kim Jong Un visited a munitions factory on Saturday, where he ordered that the production capacity of tactical guided weapons be increased by more than twofold.

In recent weeks, Kim has intensified inspections of military facilities, including weapons factories and a nuclear-powered submarine, while personally overseeing missile tests. These moves come ahead of the Ninth Party congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, a major political event expected to outline Pyongyang’s long-term policy and military objectives.

Lee’s national security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, said South Korea expects China to play a constructive role in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula, though he declined to provide specific details about the summit agenda.

Observers note that President Lee’s discussions with Xi Jinping are likely to focus on persuading China to facilitate dialogue with North Korea, particularly at a time when Pyongyang has rejected outreach efforts from Lee’s administration since he took office seven months ago.

As global tensions continue to rise—from Latin America to East Asia—the latest missile launches underscore the fragile state of international security and the growing interconnectedness of geopolitical flashpoints worldwide.