North Korea Ballistic Missile Launch 2026: Provocation Before China Summit

Diplomacy was on the schedule, but missiles took the stage first. On January 4, 2026, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea. It's the North's first weapons test of the year, occurring just hours before President Lee Jae Myung was set to depart for Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping.

Strategic Timing of North Korea Ballistic Missile Launch 2026

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the launches near Pyongyang at approximately 7:50 a.m. The missiles flew about 900 kilometers before landing in the East Sea. In response, Cheong Wa Dae convened an emergency meeting led by Deputy National Security Adviser Lim Jong-deuk to assess military readiness and condemn the violation of UN resolutions.

Political Reaction and Regional Implications

Political parties in Seoul were unusually united in their criticism. The Democratic Party labeled it a calculated attempt to disrupt diplomatic solutions, while the People Power Party suggested the test might be a protest against the U.S. operation in Venezuela. Experts note that Kim Jong-un has recently visited tactical weapon plants ahead of the upcoming 9th Party Congress.