January 5, 2026
North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles towards its eastern waters on 04 January. The launch was overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who stated that the exercise was necessary to maintain a reliable nuclear deterrent amid recent geopolitical circumstances. South Korea’s Defence Ministry stated that the launches violated the UN Security Council resolutions that ban ballistic activities by North Korea and urged North Korea to resume talks to restore peace on the Korean Peninsula. Japan’s Defence Ministry also criticized the missile launch.