North Korea launched two ballistic missiles toward the sea on Wednesday, according to the South Korean military, during a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Seoul, and days after Pyongyang announced it had successfully tested new long-range cruise missiles. China is North Korea's main diplomatic ally and primary partner in trade and aid, despite Pyongyang being under a self-imposed blockade after closing its borders early last year to protect itself from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff stated in a release that the nuclear-armed North Korea launched "two unspecified ballistic missiles" from its central region toward the sea off its eastern coast. They added that "the South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies are conducting detailed analyses," without immediately disclosing details about the missiles' range.
The launch occurred while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was visiting Seoul to discuss with his South Korean counterpart. Prior to the news breaking, Wang expressed hope that all countries would assist in the "process of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," according to Yonhap News Agency. He added, "For example, it's not just the North, but there are other countries involved in military activities as well." He continued, "Therefore, we all need to work together to resume dialogue."
**Strategic Weapons**
Wednesday's launch follows days after North Korea's official news agency reported that Pyongyang successfully conducted tests of a new long-range cruise missile last weekend, referring to it as "weapons of strategic importance." Photos published by the Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Monday showed a missile exiting one of five tubes on a launch vehicle and a missile flying in a horizontal trajectory. Analysts noted that this weapon represents a technological advancement for North Korea in weaponry, as it is more capable of evading defense systems to deliver a warhead over South Korea or Japan, both allies of the United States.
The missiles launched over the past weekend traveled a distance of 1,500 kilometers, over North Korea and its territorial waters, before reaching their target, according to the North's agency. The UN Security Council has adopted several resolutions prohibiting North Korea from continuing its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, which it claims are necessary for self-defense against a U.S. invasion. However, these resolutions have not banned the development of cruise missiles, which North Korea has previously tested.
U.S. special envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, proposed on Monday from Seoul to meet representatives from Pyongyang "anywhere, anytime, without preconditions." Following a meeting of U.S., Japanese, and South Korean envoys to the North earlier this week in Tokyo, U.S. representative Sung Kim reiterated, "We hope the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) will respond positively to our efforts for awareness and our proposal to hold a meeting anywhere, anytime, without preconditions." He added that the United States is ready to "address humanitarian issues regardless of the progress in nuclear disarmament" in line with international standards.
Nuclear talks with the United States have been stalled since the collapse of the 2019 summit in Hanoi between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump over issues of sanctions imposed on nuclear-armed North Korea and what Pyongyang might offer in exchange for relief from these sanctions. North Korea's weapons programs have made rapid progress under Kim, but it has not conducted a nuclear test or launched an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017.
