North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Amid Trump’s Call for Talks

North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Friday toward the sea off its east coast, South Korea and Japan confirmed, marking another escalation in regional tensions. The launch followed a series of missile tests in recent weeks and came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump extended an open invitation to resume talks with Pyongyang.

According to South Korea’s military, the missile — suspected to be a short-range ballistic type — was launched from a northwestern region near the Chinese border and traveled approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles) before landing in the sea. The projectile was tracked in real time by both South Korean and U.S. surveillance systems, which promptly shared the data with Japan.

Japanese officials also confirmed the launch, saying the missile likely fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that no damages or casualties were reported from the incident.

This latest launch continues a pattern of North Korean missile tests coinciding with diplomatic overtures from Washington. During his visit to South Korea last week, Donald Trump reiterated his willingness to meet Kim Jong Un, fueling speculation about a potential breakthrough meeting. However, no meeting materialized.

Trump, who famously met Kim at the Panmunjom truce village in 2019 during his first presidential term, said he remains open to visiting the region again for future talks. While Kim has not responded to Trump’s most recent outreach, he previously stated that he has “fond memories” of their past meetings and expressed openness to dialogue — provided that the U.S. drops its insistence on complete denuclearization.

Meanwhile, North Korea’s foreign ministry issued a sharp rebuke on Thursday, accusing the Trump administration of “antagonizing” Pyongyang through continued sanctions targeting its officials and institutions over alleged money laundering. The ministry vowed retaliation but did not specify the nature of its response.

The missile launch also came shortly after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to Seoul, where he reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad commitment” to the U.S.-South Korea security alliance. Hegseth emphasized that U.S. forces stationed in South Korea remain focused on deterring North Korean threats, even as Washington aims to maintain strategic flexibility in addressing broader regional challenges.

In the past month, North Korea has fired multiple short-range ballistic and cruise missiles, including what it described as a hypersonic weapon, just ahead of a high-profile regional summit attended by Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The growing frequency of missile launches underscores Pyongyang’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its military capabilities and gain leverage amid renewed calls for diplomatic engagement. As the situation unfolds, regional powers remain on alert for further provocations or signs of negotiation.