North Korea fired short-range missiles into the East Sea on Oct. 22, 2025, its first test in five months, ahead of the APEC summit.

North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles eastward from an area south of Pyongyang on October 22, 2025, marking its first missile tests in five months. The projectiles traveled about 350 kilometers into the East Sea, with no damage reported and no breach of Japanese waters, according to South Korea and Japan. The launch occurred ahead of the APEC summit in South Korea, where U.S. President Donald Trump was expected to attend. It follows North Korea’s recent display of its Hwasong-20 intercontinental missile and completion of solid-fuel engine tests, signaling progress in its long-range missile program. Pyongyang continues to reject U.S. denuclearization demands, insisting on mutual recognition, while strengthening ties with China and Russia. South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are coordinating closely amid ongoing regional tensions.