North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile Amid Political Crisis

North Korea launched a medium-range ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan on January 6, coinciding with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to South Korea. The missile traveled approximately 1,100 kilometers before falling into the sea, marking North Korea's first missile test of 2025 and a continuation of its military provocations. Blinken condemned the launch as a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions and highlighted concerns over North Korea's increasing cooperation with Russia in advanced space technology. The South Korean military has heightened its surveillance and is coordinating closely with the U.S. and Japan in response to the launch. This incident occurs against a backdrop of political turmoil in South Korea, where President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing impeachment. The missile test underscores the ongoing tensions in the region and the challenges facing U.S. diplomacy with North Korea and its allies.