SEOUL – North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) into the sea on Monday, coinciding with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to South Korea during a politically turbulent period in the country.
The missile was launched eastward around noon (0300 GMT), shortly after Blinken held discussions with South Korea’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok.
During their meeting, Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ “unwavering” commitment to South Korea’s security and stressed the importance of a robust joint defense posture to counter potential provocations from Pyongyang, according to an official statement.
Choi is temporarily leading South Korea following the suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached after declaring martial law on December 3, with his suspension taking effect on December 14.
Monday’s missile test marks North Korea’s first launch since November 5, when it fired seven short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast.
While the exact missile type remains unclear, North Korea’s previous IRBM tests included solid-fuel designs equipped with hypersonic glide vehicles.
These advanced warheads are engineered to maneuver and evade missile defense systems.
North Korea has announced its intention to transition to solid-fuel missiles across all ranges.
Solid-fuel weapons are more difficult to detect and can be launched more swiftly, as they do not require fueling before deployment.
This makes them more survivable and logistically efficient compared to liquid-fuel missiles.