North Korea Fires Multiple Ballistic Missiles Ahead of Major Party Congress
By Staff Reporter January 4, 2026 • 2:15 PM
North Korea has launched several ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Sunday morning, marking a significant escalation in weapons testing just as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung prepares for a high-stakes diplomatic summit in China.
Strategic Timing South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the launches from the Pyongyang region at approximately 7:50 AM local time. The missiles reportedly traveled roughly 900 kilometers before landing in the sea. This move is seen by military analysts as a calculated show of force ahead of North Korea’s Ninth Party Congress, expected to convene in early 2026.
The launch also occurs against a backdrop of global tension following recent US military actions in Venezuela. Some experts suggest Pyongyang may be signaling its own “deterrent” capabilities in response to the ousting of Nicolás Maduro.
President Lee Heads to Beijing The missile activity took place just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed for a four-day state visit to China. President Lee is scheduled to meet with President Xi Jinping to discuss economic ties and seek Beijing’s “constructive role” in maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Regional Response
- South Korea: The JCS confirmed it has bolstered surveillance and is sharing real-time data with the US and Japan.
- Japan: Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the launches as “absolutely intolerable,” noting that the missiles reached an altitude of 50km.
- USA: US military forces in the region remain on high alert, monitoring for any additional provocations.
Earlier this week, North Korea released imagery suggesting progress on its first nuclear-powered submarine, further indicating that leader Kim Jong Un is fast-tracking his five-year defense plan.
