North Korea Welcomed Trump with Cruise Missile Test-Fire

In a provocative display timed just hours before U.S. President Donald Trump’s arrival in South Korea, North Korea announced the successful test-launch of ship-fired cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea on October 28.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) Strategic Missile Command carried out the exercise, targeting maritime mockups with modified cruise missiles designed for naval deployment. According to a statement from Pyongyang’s state media, the missiles launched vertically from surface vessels, followed a preset trajectory over the western waters for over two hours and ten minutes, and struck their designated targets with pinpoint accuracy.

The timing of the test—coming one day ahead of Trump’s scheduled diplomatic visit—has heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with Seoul and Washington condemning the action as an unnecessary escalation amid ongoing denuclearization talks.