North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Ahead of Major Asia-Pacific Economic Conference

North Korea launched a ballistic missile into its eastern waters on Wednesday, according to South Korea's military authorities.

The statement released by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff was brief and did not provide specific details regarding the missile's flight path or distance.

This missile test occurs just days before South Korea is scheduled to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference. The upcoming summit in the South Korean city of Gyeongju will bring together world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.

Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showcased a new long-range missile during a large military parade in Pyongyang, attended by high-ranking officials from China, Russia, and other nations. The parade, commemorating the Workers' Party's 80th founding anniversary, highlighted Kim's growing diplomatic influence and his persistent efforts to develop weapons capable of reaching the continental United States and regional adversaries.

Kim's diplomatic standing has strengthened recently. He was prominently featured alongside Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a military parade in Beijing last month. Both U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have repeatedly expressed interest in meeting with Kim despite his provocative nuclear program developments.