North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile

North Korea fired a suspected mid-range ballistic missile over the sea off its east coast on Monday, according to South Korea's military. The launch, which originated in the Pyongyang area at around noon, flew approximately 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) before landing in the sea less than 10 minutes later.

The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) called the launch a "clear provocation" and said it was monitoring the situation, sharing relevant information with the United States and Japan. Japan's Ministry of Defense also confirmed the launch, stating that the missile had already fallen into the sea.

The timing of the launch coincides with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Seoul, where he met with Acting President Choi Sang-mok. Blinken emphasized Washington's "unwavering" security commitment to South Korea and stressed the importance of a strong joint defense posture to prepare for possible North Korea provocations.

The launch also comes two weeks before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump has a history of engaging with North Korea, having met with leader Kim Jong Un three times during his first term. However, these efforts yielded no progress on denuclearization or lasting improvements in relations.

Trump has signaled a potential revival of his diplomatic efforts with North Korea, appointing William Beau Harrison, who played a critical role in planning the summits with Kim, as an assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for operations.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has expressed skepticism about improving relations with the U.S. under Trump, stating that negotiations with the U.S. have only confirmed its "unwavering hostility".