• North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles towards the East Sea on October 22, 2025.
• This marks the first missile launch since May and the first under President Lee Jae Myung.
• The timing coincides with the upcoming APEC summit where global leaders, including Trump and Xi, will meet.
• Experts suggest the launch is a provocative gesture towards the US and a show of military strength.

On October 22, 2025, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles towards the East Sea, marking the first such launch in five months. South Korea's military reported that the missiles, launched around 8:10 AM local time from North Hwanghae Province, are presumed to be short-range projectiles. This comes just a week ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea, where global leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, are expected to gather, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

The missile launch, described by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, is seen as a provocative signal from North Korea amidst heightened tensions and ongoing military developments. Experts indicate that the strategic timing of this event aims to underscore North Korea's military capabilities ahead of the APEC forum on October 31, as stated by Al Jazeera and Le Monde.

During a recent military parade, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un displayed a new intercontinental ballistic missile, asserting the country's defense posture in light of international sanctions and ongoing diplomatic strains. The show of military strength is a clear reminder of North Korea's defiance against attempts at denuclearization, reinforcing its commitment to maintaining a nuclear arsenal, as reported by Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The launch also coincided with preparations for potential high-stakes meetings between North Korea and the US, with speculations about a possible meeting between Trump and Kim during the President's visit to the region. Such developments highlight the ongoing complexities in diplomatic relations on the Korean Peninsula, according to AA and AA.