North Korea is flexing its muscles and firing short-range ballistic missiles into its waters ahead of a major political meeting.
South Korea’s military has detected the launches of several ballistic missiles from an area northeast of Pyongyang, North Korea, adding that each missile flew about 350 km. The Associated Press reported.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Defense Ministry said two ballistic missiles were launched from North Korea and landed off the coast of the Korean Peninsula, the AP reported.
These launches mark the first time North Korea has fired weapons since testing hypersonic missiles in early January, the AP said. In December, the country tested long-range strategic cruise missiles and new anti-aircraft missiles and released photos of the apparent construction of a nuclear-powered submarine that would be the first of its kind for Pyongyang, the AP reported.
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A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea’s missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Train Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, January 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The rocket launches come as the ruling party prepares to hold its first full congress in five years, according to the ruling party. the APthat state media quoted. So far, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has met with other top officials to prepare for the meeting. The top-level meeting will reportedly be used to set new political and economic priorities as the US and South Korea seek renewed talks with North Korea.
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the completion of a first-phase modernization project at the Ryongsong Machine Complex in North Korea on Monday, January 19, 2026. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
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The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which is controlled by the North Korean government, reported in December that Kim chaired a plenary meeting of the Workers’ Party Central Committee in which participants discussed issues related to this year’s party congress and state policies, the AP reported. The outlet noted that Kim revived the Congress in 2016 after a 36-year hiatus.
President Donald Trump, left, meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, on the North Korean side of the border in the village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone, on June 30, 2019. (Susan Walsh/AP)
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In addition, North Korea recently accused South Korea of ​​conducting drone flights across the border. Seoul has denied using drones at the times specified by Pyongyang and said it was beginning to investigate the possibility that civilians sent them.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
