North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Friday, targeting the sea off its east coast, according to reports from South Korea and Japan. The launch follows a series of missile tests in recent weeks and comes after U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his offer to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, reports Reuters.
South Korea’s military stated that the missile was launched from North Korea’s northwest region, near the Chinese border, and was fired toward the sea to the east. Japan’s government also confirmed the launch, describing it as a potential ballistic missile, which they said likely fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reported that no damage had been confirmed.
The missile launch occurred just days after Trump, while visiting South Korea, expressed his continued willingness to meet with Kim Jong Un. Despite raising hopes for a potential summit, no meeting took place, though Trump said he was prepared to return to the region for further talks.
Trump and Kim previously met in 2019 at the Panmunjom truce village on the inter-Korea military border during Trump’s first term. While Kim has yet to respond to Trump’s latest offer, he has previously said that he had “fond memories” of their past meetings and indicated that talks could proceed if Washington ceased demanding North Korea’s denuclearization.
In response to U.S. sanctions on North Korean officials and institutions over alleged money laundering, North Korea’s foreign ministry accused the Trump administration of "antagonizing" the country.
In recent weeks, North Korea has also launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles, including a claimed hypersonic missile, along with sea-to-surface cruise missiles. These tests coincided with the regional summit, which included visits by both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to South Korea.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
