Wed Oct 29 01:37:07 UTC 2025: North Korea Tests Sea-to-Surface Missiles Ahead of Trump’s South Korea Visit
Pyongyang, North Korea – North Korea announced it test-fired several sea-to-surface cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, just hours before former U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the missiles flew for over two hours and accurately struck targets.
Top military official Pak Jong Chon oversaw the test, stating it demonstrated “important successes” in bolstering North Korea’s “nuclear forces” as a deterrent. He emphasized the tests were aimed at proving the reliability of North Korea’s strategic offensive capabilities to its “enemies.”
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed they detected preparations for the launch, which occurred at approximately 3 PM local time. They are analyzing the weapons with the U.S. and are maintaining a strong defense posture against any further provocations.
This launch follows recent short-range ballistic missile tests, which North Korea claimed involved a new hypersonic system. The timing is notable as Trump is expected to meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung during his visit, amid APEC meetings in Gyeongju. While Trump has expressed interest in meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, South Korean officials consider such a meeting unlikely.
Trump, before arriving in South Korea, met with families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. He assured them of U.S. support in seeking the return of their loved ones. North Korea admitted to abducting Japanese citizens in 2002, claiming they were used to train spies, though discrepancies remain regarding the number and status of those abducted.
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