North Korea fires missiles towards sea as South Korean leader visits China

As South Korea’s leader makes its first state visit to China in a year’s span, North Korea has fired several ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast.

The missiles launched on Sunday at around 7:50 am (22:50 GMT on Saturday) flew about 900 kilometers (60 miles) in the south of South Korea, according to the military.

The military added that the nation and the United States were “closely analysing the specifications” while “maintaining a full readiness posture.”

The US forces for the Asia Pacific said in a statement that the missile launches did not “pose an immediate threat to our allies, US personnel, or our territory.”

Additionally, Japan reported that at least two missiles had traveled 900 and 950 kilometers (60 kilometers) in both directions.

The development of nuclear weapons and missiles by North Korea is “absolutely intolerable,” according to Japan’s defense minister Shinjiro Koizumi.

Pyongyang last tested its ballistic missiles on November 7th.

Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, visited a munitions factory on Saturday and demanded that the production of tactical guided weapons double.

Kim has visited a number of weapons factories and a nuclear-powered submarine recently, overseeing missile tests ahead of the Workers’ Party’s ninth-party congress, which will take place later this year, and set out important policy objectives.

The launches from Pyongyang “a message to China to deter closer ties with South Korea and to counter China’s stance on denuclearization,” according to Lim Eul-chul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies in Seoul.

After the US launched a string of attacks on Saturday and “captured” Venezuela, Lim said it was North Korea who was sending a message of strength.

Visit to China

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung reportedly arrived in Beijing on Sunday morning, according to the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

More than 200 South Korean business leaders are expected to speak with Lee about supply chain investment, the digital economy, and cultural exchanges.

In just two months, the South Korean leader will meet with Xi Jinping, the leader of China. The brief frequency of the meetings, in the opinion of analysts, indicates Beijing’s desire to boost tourism and economic collaboration.

Seoul has stated that the Beijing trip will include a peacekeeping mission on the Korean Peninsula.

After Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi claimed in November that her country’s military might become involved if China were to act against Taiwan, Lee’s trip comes at a time when China and Japan are atheightened tensions.