North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles on October 22, 2025, a week before US President Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea for the APEC summit, in a move widely interpreted as a calculated provocation designed to grab international attention and assert Pyongyang’s strategic demands ahead of potential diplomatic engagements.
In a strategically timed display of its ongoing military prowess, North Korea test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. This significant launch, the first of its kind in months and since South Korean President Lee Jae-myung took office in June, occurred just one week before world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, are set to gather in South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. South Korea’s military reported detecting “several projectiles” launched from an area south of Pyongyang, which flew approximately 350 kilometers (217 miles) towards the northeast before landing, as detailed by The Associated Press.
The Calculated Timing: A Message to Washington and Seoul
The timing of Pyongyang’s missile test is rarely coincidental. Experts, such as Park Won-gon, a professor at Seoul’s Ewha Womans University, interpret the launch as a direct “response to Trump and his recent moves” and an attempt by Kim Jong Un to “assert his regime’s presence during an event hosted by Seoul,” a tactic seen repeatedly in the past. With Trump expected to arrive in South Korea on October 29 for the APEC forum and potential bilateral meetings with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korea seized the moment to remind the international community of its unyielding military advancements and demands.
This ballistic missile launch marks the first since May, defying a standing United Nations Security Council ban on such weapons. It also sets a challenging backdrop for President Lee Jae-myung, who took office with a platform advocating for renewed engagement with North Korea. The provocation underscores a familiar pattern where North Korea uses missile tests to exert pressure and gain leverage ahead of high-level diplomatic engagements.
Kim Jong Un’s Strategic Diplomacy and Evolving Arsenal
The latest missile launch comes amidst a complex dance of diplomatic overtures and military showcases. Despite previous breakdowns in talks, Kim Jong Un has recently indicated a fresh openness to dialogue with the United States. In September, Kim expressed “fond memories” of his past summits with Trump, stating there was “no reason” to avoid talks if Washington would discard its “delusional obsession with denuclearisation” and recognize Pyongyang as a nuclear power, as reported by Reuters. However, North Korea has consistently maintained it has no intention of giving up its nuclear arsenal, which it views as essential for its security.
Pyongyang has been steadily upgrading its missile capabilities over the past decade. This month, at a military parade attended by top officials from Russia and China, Kim Jong Un showcased what North Korea hailed as its “most powerful” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-20. State media boasted that the strike range of this new missile “knows no bounds.” In September, Kim also oversaw the ninth and final test of a solid-fuel engine designed for long-range nuclear missiles, indicating a full test-fire of a new ICBM could be imminent.
Regional Reactions and Diplomatic Challenges
The missile launch immediately triggered responses from regional powers. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reiterated that its military remains ready to repel any provocations, maintaining a solid alliance with the United States. Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, confirmed that Tokyo was closely coordinating with Washington and Seoul, sharing real-time missile warning data to ensure regional security. She stated there was no immediate impact on Japan’s security.
The potential for a fourth Trump-Kim summit remains a speculative, yet persistent, topic. While Trump has expressed interest, and Kim has voiced openness under specific conditions, the complexities of a quick meeting during the APEC summit are considerable. Analysts like Andrew Yeo of the Brookings Institution note that Trump’s tight schedule, including a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, makes a substantive direct engagement with Kim Jong Un unlikely during this trip.
The Enduring Stalemate and Future Outlook
The breakdown of nuclear diplomacy in Hanoi in 2019, primarily over the extent of sanctions relief versus denuclearization steps, continues to cast a long shadow. Pyongyang remains under successive rafts of UN sanctions for its illicit nuclear and missile programs, yet it has shown no signs of relinquishing its arsenal. Instead, it has actively sought to strengthen ties with old partners like China and Russia, leveraging geopolitical alignments to resist international pressure.
This latest missile test is not merely a technical demonstration but a powerful political statement. It underscores North Korea’s unwavering commitment to its strategic weapons program and its readiness to use provocations as a tool to demand recognition and concessions. For regional stability and the future of denuclearization efforts, the launch serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance of power and the intricate diplomatic challenges that persist on the Korean Peninsula.
