North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile

Just days after U.S. Defense Secretary (War Minister) Pete Hegseth visited South Korea for an annual security dialogue, North Korea has launched at least one ballistic missile toward its eastern waters. South Korea’s military confirmed the incident and informed international media on Friday (November 7).

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that the short-range missile exploded over the East Sea (also known as the Sea of Japan) after traveling approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles).

The Japanese government also confirmed the launch, stating that the missile likely fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

Pyongyang’s latest missile launch came just four days after South Korea fired 10 rounds of artillery into its western waters. The provocation also followed about a week after President Donald Trump authorized Seoul to develop nuclear-powered submarines.

Experts say South Korea is on its way to joining the small club of nations that operate nuclear-powered submarines — a move that would significantly enhance its naval and defense capabilities, something North Korea views with alarm.

On Friday, a senior South Korean presidential official said that Seoul hopes to acquire enriched uranium from the United States for use as fuel in its nuclear-powered submarines.

Since taking office earlier this year, President Trump and South Korean leaders have been trying to reopen talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. However, Kim has avoided any negotiations with Washington or Seoul since the collapse of the previous round of U.S.–North Korea talks in 2019.

In September, Kim said he was open to dialogue — but only if the United States dropped its demand for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. “My country is a nuclear state, and it will not step away from that in the future,” Kim declared.