North Korea launches projectile toward eastern waters in year’s second launch, South Korea says

In 2024, North Korea increased its weapons testing, showcasing solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles aimed at the U.S. and shorter-range missiles designed to bypass South Korean defenses. File
| Photo Credit: AP

“North Korea on Tuesday (January 14, 2025) test-fired at least one unidentified projectile toward its eastern waters,” South Korea’s military said, as it continued its weapons demonstrations ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff didn’t immediately confirm whether the test involved a ballistic missile or another type of weapon. It wasn’t immediately clear how far the weapon flew.

It was North Korea’s second launch event of 2025, following a ballistic launch last week.

North Korea said the January 6 test was a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile designed to strike remote targets in the Pacific as leader Kim Jong Un vowed to further expand his collection of nuclear-capable weapons to counter rival nations.

North Korea is coming off a torrid year in weapons testing. The systems it demonstrated in 2024 included solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to strike the U.S. mainland and various shorter-range missiles designed to overwhelm missile defences in South Korea. There are concerns that its military capabilities could advance further through technology transfers from Russia, as the two countries align over the war in Ukraine.

At a year-end political conference, Mr. Kim vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy. He criticised the Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen security cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo, which he described as a “nuclear military bloc for aggression”.

North Korean state media did not specify Mr. Kim’s policy plans or mention any specific comments about Mr. Trump. During his first term as president, Mr. Trump met Mr. Kim three times for talks on the North’s nuclear programme.

“Even if Mr. Trump returns to the White House, a quick resumption of diplomacy with North Korea could be unlikely. Mr. Kim’s strengthened position – built on his expanded nuclear arsenal, deepening alliance with Russia and the weakening enforcement of U.S. international sanctions – presents new challenges to resolving the nuclear standoff,” experts say.