North Korea Conducts Ballistic Missile Test Ahead of Trump’s Asia Visit

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday, just days before U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Asia, marking the country’s first missile test in five months.

October 22, 2025Clash Report

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South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that multiple short-range ballistic missiles were launched from an area south of Pyongyang toward the northeast, traveling about 350 kilometers (220 miles).
Officials said the projectiles did not fall into the sea, though no additional flight details were disclosed.

The South Korean military stated it “remains fully prepared to repel any form of North Korean provocation based on its strong alliance with the United States.”

Regional Response and Coordination

Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters that Tokyo was in close communication with Washington and Seoul, sharing real-time missile warning data.
North Korea has not yet commented on the launches.

The tests came just as diplomatic efforts in the region were gaining momentum ahead of a series of high-level meetings.

Trump’s Planned Asia Tour

President Trump is set to begin his first regional visit of his second term this weekend. His itinerary includes Malaysia for a regional summit, followed by stops in Japan and South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, aimed at promoting economic integration and trade cooperation.

While Trump was expected to visit South Korea’s Gyeongju for bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung before the summit, Seoul officials said it was “unlikely” that Trump would attend APEC’s main conference from October 30 to November 1.

First Launch Under President Lee’s Administration

Wednesday’s missile launches were North Korea’s first since May 8, when it tested short-range systems simulating nuclear counterattacks against U.S. and South Korean forces.
It also marked the first such provocation since President Lee Jae Myung took office in June, pledging to restore peace on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea Conducts Ballistic Missile Test Ahead of Trump’s Asia Visit