North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Amid Kim-Putin Convocation Igniting International Tensions

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North Korea is reported to have launched a minimum of one ballistic missile towards its eastern seas, according to South Korea’s military. This event coincided with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, journeying to Russia for a convocation with President Vladimir Putin, causing heightened international anxiety around a potential arms agreement that could escalate Moscow’s war endeavors in Ukraine.

The specifics of the missile’s journey, such as its distance covered, were not promptly unveiled by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Japanese Coast Guard, drawing upon data from Tokyo’s Defense Ministry, surmised that the missile likely descended, however caution was advised for seafarers around Japanese coasts to be vigilant of potential falling objects.


Kim Jong Un is perceived to be exploiting the global preoccupation with Russia’s war in Ukraine to amplify the militaristic pursuits in North Korea. This involves an escalation in weapons development, marked by an excess of a hundred missile launches since the onset of 2022.

As articulated by U.S. officials, it’s conceivable that Putin, during his rendezvous with Kim Jong Un, could negotiate for an increased supply of North Korean artillery and additional ammunition. This could serve to replenish dwindling reserves, thereby extending his ongoing invasion of Ukraine. On the other hand, experts suggest that Kim might leverage this opportunity to request urgently needed economic assistance and intricate weapons technologies, in a bid to further his nuclear and missiles program.