North Korea Missile Launch Overshadows South Korea-Japan Summit in Tokyo

South Korea and Japan were set to meet for a summit in Tokyo on Thursday, but the meeting was overshadowed by a North Korean missile launch.

Early Thursday morning, North Korea test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in a display of military might. The missile traveled approximately 1,000 km (621 miles) and reached an altitude of over 6,000 km (3,728 miles). South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and Japan’s Defense Ministry both confirmed the launch.

The missile fell outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), approximately 550 kilometers (341 miles) east of the Korean Peninsula. This was North Korea’s first ICBM test in a month and third weapons testing this week.

The launch comes as South Korea and the United States continue joint military exercises, which North Korea considers a rehearsal to invade. The exercises have been a source of tension between the two countries, as North Korea has repeatedly called for them to be stopped.

The missile launch is a reminder of the ongoing tensions between North Korea and its neighbors. South Korea and Japan have been working together to address the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, and the missile launch is a stark reminder of the challenges they face.