North Korea launched several ballistic missiles towards the sea on Sunday. This happened just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited Beijing. The launches have increased worries in the region. They also lead to more questions about leader Kim Jong-un's successor.
The missiles were fired near North Korea's capital. They flew about 900 to 950 kilometres. They also reached a height of 50,000 metres. State media said leader Kim Jong-un watched the tests himself. This shows the country is focused on improving its weapons. Kim Jong-un said the tests met an important goal for national defence. North Korea says it needs to protect itself from a difficult international situation.
The timing of the missile tests was very important. They happened before President Lee Jae Myung met with Chinese leaders. They were going to talk about North Korea's nuclear weapons. The missile tests seem to send a message to Seoul and Beijing. This shows North Korea does not want to talk about diplomacy. It also shows it ignores international rules.
Kim Jong-un's daughter, Kim Ju-ae, was also seen publicly. She visited a palace with her parents on January 1st. Pictures show her standing between her father and mother. Some people think this means she might be chosen as the next leader. This rare appearance and the focus on military strength suggest a new leader may be prepared.
North Korea also spoke out against actions by the United States in Venezuela. They called it a serious problem. This connects their own safety concerns to global issues. It shows how North Korea uses world events.
South Korea and the United States are studying the missile launches. They are staying ready for more actions. Seoul held a meeting about the launches. They said the tests were against UN rules. Japan also strongly condemned the launches. A minister said North Korea's weapons threaten peace. The country's military actions and leadership questions create a difficult situation for global security.