The launch was timed for the eve of the U.S. president’s visit for the APEC summit, where he is also scheduled to meet with China’s Xi Jinping.
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea test-fired several sea-to-ground cruise missiles from its western coast on Tuesday, a deliberate show of force timed to coincide with the arrival of U.S. President Donald Trump in South Korea.
The state-run KCNA news agency confirmed the test, claiming the projectiles, which flew for more than two hours, demonstrated the “reliability and capability” of the arsenal against “potential enemies.”
The launch adds a new layer of tension to Mr. Trump’s visit, who lands in Seoul on Wednesday for a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. Both leaders are then scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where Mr. Trump is also expected to hold a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
North Korea frequently uses such weapons tests to accompany major diplomatic events.
In a notable shift, the test was reportedly supervised by Pak Jong-chon, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, without the presence of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Analysts suggest his absence is intended to portray the tests as a “normalized” and routine part of North Korea’s military readiness, capable of operating independently of its leader.
South Korean and U.S. military officials have not yet released a formal assessment of the missiles’ flight paths or capabilities, but the long flight time suggests a test of a long-range system.
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