South Korea says that North Korea launched its first ballistic missile test of 2025 during U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit.

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

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N. Korea launched first ballistic missile of 2025 during Blinken’s visit: Seoul

Jan 6

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By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

Seoul said that North Korea test fired its first ballistic missile of the new year on Monday, Jan. 6, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Korea. Blinken and his South Korean counterpart condemned the launch during a joint press conference on the same day.

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He called the test fire “another violation of multiple U.N. security resolutions” and the South said that it threatens peace in the Indo-Pacific.

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South Korea said that the missile traveled 685 miles before falling into the ocean between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Intelligence officials said the missile was fired from Pyongyang, and the U.S. and South Korean military detected preparations before the test fire.

In response to the launch, Seoul said that it is strengthening its surveillance and security in the region for any potential additional launches. There was no reported damage from the test fire on Monday.

The missile launch came as Blinken visited Seoul for talks with South Korea over the threat of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, and its increasingly close relationship with Moscow. Both Blinken and South Korean officials reportedly believe North Korea’s cooperation with Russia is expanding.

Blinken accused Moscow on Monday of planning to “share space and satellite technology” with North Korea. Moscow is already getting help in part of the deal, as Pyongyang has sent thousands of soldiers to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine.

As of the publishing of this report, North Korean media has yet to report on the test fire. They usually report on test fires within 24 hours of a launch.

Tags: Antony Blinken, Donald Trump, Indo-Pacific, Joe Biden, Kim Jong Un, Kyiv, missiles, Moscow, North Korea, Nuclear weapons, Pyongyang, Russia, Russia-Ukraine War, Russian Defense Ministry, South Korea, South Korean Military, Ukraine, Ukraine aid, Ukraine Defense Ministry, United States, Vladimir Putin, Weapons

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

SEOUL SAYS NORTH KOREA TEST FIRED A BALLISTIC MISSILE MONDAY AS U-S SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN VISITED SOUTH KOREA.

BLINKEN AND HIS SOUTH KOREAN COUNTERPART CONDEMNED THE LAUNCH DURING A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE.

BLINKEN CALLING IT “ANOTHER VIOLATION OF MULTIPLE U-N SECURITY RESOLUTIONS” AND THE SOUTH SAYING IT THREATENS PEACE IN THE INDO-PACIFIC.

THE SOUTH SAYS THE MISSILE TRAVELED 685 MILES BEFORE FALLING INTO THE OCEAN BETWEEN THE KOREAN PENINSULA AND JAPAN.

INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAY THE MISSILE WAS FIRED FROM PYONGYANG AND THE U-S AND SOUTH KOREA DETECTED PREPARATIONS BEFORE THE TEST FIRE.

IN RESPONSE, SEOUL SAYS IT IS STRENGTHENING ITS SURVEILLANCE AND SECURITY IN THE REGION TO PREPARE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL LAUNCHES.

THERE WAS NO REPORTED DAMAGE FROM THE TEST FIRE.

THE MISSILE LAUNCH CAME AS BLINKEN VISITED SEOUL FOR TALKS WITH SOUTH KOREA OVER THE THREAT OF THE NORTH’S NUCLEAR ARSENAL AND ITS INCREASINGLY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH MOSCOW.

BOTH BLINKEN AND SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS BELIEVE NORTH KOREA’S COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA IS EXPANDING.

WITH BLINKEN MONDAY ACCUSING MOSCOW OF PLANNING TO “SHARE SPACE AND SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY.”

MOSCOW IS ALREADY GETTING HELP AS PYONGYANG HAS SENT THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE RUSSIAN TROOPS IN UKRAINE.

AS OF THE PUBLISHING OF THIS REPORT, NORTH KOREAN MEDIA HAS YET TO REPORT ON THE TEST FIRE.

THEY USUALLY DO SO WITHIN 24 HOURS OF A LAUNCH.

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI.

N. Korea launched first ballistic missile of 2025 during Blinken’s visit: Seoul

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