North Korea launches ballistic missile for first time in 5 months
Oct 22, 2025
Pyongyang [North Korea], October 22: North Korea fired at least one ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast on October 22, according to a statement from the South Korean military.
Yonhap news agency quoted the announcement at 8:20 a.m. of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) saying that it detected North Korea launching an unidentified ballistic missile into the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan.
The South Korean military confirmed that it was a short-range missile, but no further details about the launch were released. The Japanese Coast Guard and the Defense Ministry did not send out a launch warning, suggesting it could have been a short-range missile, according to The Japan Times .
This is the first missile launch by North Korea in five months . The country has launched short-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles into the East Sea on May 8 and May 22.
In June, the South Korean military detected North Korea launching more than 10 rockets from an area near the capital Pyongyang toward the northwest.
North Korea has not commented on the latest information from South Korea, which is believed to be the first ballistic missile launch by North Korea since South Korean President Lee Jae-myung took office in June.
The launch also came just a day after Takaichi Sanae was elected Prime Minister of Japan.
On the other hand, this launch took place before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC ) summit in South Korea from October 31 to November 1. US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to attend the event.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
