North Korea Fires Short-Range Missiles in 2025 Test

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, marking its second missile test of 2025. The missiles, fired from the Ganggye area in Jagang Province, traveled approximately 250 kilometers before landing in the sea. This launch comes shortly before the inauguration of Donald Trump's second presidential term, with experts suggesting it might be a message to the incoming administration. South Korea's military, alongside its US and Japanese counterparts, is maintaining heightened surveillance and readiness in response to potential further provocations. This missile test follows a previous launch of a hypersonic missile on January 6, which North Korea claimed was part of its defense capability enhancement plans. The omission of domestic news coverage by North Korean state media suggests it was a routine drill rather than a high-profile provocation.