Seoul. North Korea tested a ballistic missile on January 6, just as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was meeting officials in South Korea. According to South Korean military sources, “North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile in the direction of the East Sea.” The missile flew about 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) and fell into the sea. Japanese officials have confirmed this.
This test took place at a time when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on a visit to South Korea. In response to this missile firing action by North Korea, South Korea also demonstrated its power by firing a ballistic missile into the sea. This development reflects the growing tension over North Korea’s missile tests, while the international community keeps an eye on North Korea’s military tests.
South Korea has further strengthened its security system after North Korea’s ballistic missile test. South Korean military sources said the country has “strengthened monitoring and vigilance for more missile tests” and is working in “close coordination with the US and Japan” in response. The special thing is that this missile test was the first of this year and it happened only two weeks before Donald Trump took office in the US presidential election.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in Seoul at that time, condemned this action of Pyongyang. Antony Blinken and his South Korean counterpart Jo Tae-yeul on Monday jointly strongly criticized North Korea’s missile test. The development reflects rising regional tensions due to North Korea’s military tests, and the international community has expressed deep concern.
Tags: Kim Jong Un, North Korea, South korea, United States
FIRST PUBLISHED : January 6, 2025, 9:18 PM IST