Seoul: North Korea launched a missile on Monday during US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to South Korea. Blinken used the opportunity to warn that Pyongyang was increasingly collaborating with Russia on advanced space technologies.
During his visit, Blinken arrived amidst a political crisis in South Korea, where President Yoon Suk Yeol, who faces impeachment for attempting to impose martial law, remained confined to his residence.
The missile test, which saw the projectile fly into the sea, was a stark reminder of regional challenges transcending domestic politics. As Blinken held meetings in Seoul, the US diplomat strongly condemned the launch, calling it a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. He also criticized Russia for expanding its cooperation with North Korea, particularly in the realms of military training and advanced space technologies.
Seoul reported that the missile flew approximately 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) before falling into the sea. The South Korean military, in coordination with the US and Japan, said it had heightened surveillance to monitor any further launches.
This missile test occurred just weeks before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who, in his previous term, had attempted to engage North Korea through direct diplomacy.
Blinken’s visit marks the beginning of what may be his final tour as the US Secretary of State. During his visit, Blinken met with acting president Choi Sang-mok, a technocrat who has held office for just over a week, and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, who is not facing impeachment. Despite ongoing protests in Seoul, Blinken refrained from addressing domestic political issues, instead reaffirming the US commitment to defending South Korea and emphasizing the need to strengthen cooperation between the US, South Korea, and Japan.
South Korea has remained aligned with the US under President Yoon’s administration, especially in terms of policy toward Japan and North Korea. Yoon has worked to heal relations with Japan, leading to the historic 2023 Camp David summit, where the leaders of the US, Japan, and South Korea agreed to bolster intelligence sharing regarding North Korea.
As South Korea continues its diplomatic efforts with the US and Japan, the nation is facing a period of political uncertainty. Meanwhile, the upcoming leadership of Donald Trump is expected to bring changes to US-South Korea relations. While Biden’s administration has focused on strengthening alliances, Trump has been critical of what he sees as unfair commitments from Washington, notably in terms of South Korea’s financial contributions toward the US military presence in the country.
In an unexpected turn, Trump had formed a unique bond with former South Korean president Moon Jae-in, encouraging diplomacy with North Korea. Trump’s rhetoric, which once included threats of “fire and fury” against Pyongyang, softened during his presidency, culminating in three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with whom he claimed to have developed a strong personal relationship.
