North Korea test fired a ballistic missile for the first time since President-elect Trump secured re-election on Monday.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s regime last launched a missile test on Nov. 5 as Americans were headed to the polls. Monday’s test is another sign that Kim apparently has no plans to develop a closer relationship with Trump than he had with President Biden.
The test comes more than a week after North Korea’s ruling party held its annual meeting in Pyongyang. State media outlet KCNA said party leaders condemned ongoing partnerships between the U.S., Japan and South Korea, as a “nuclear military bloc.”
“This reality clearly shows to which direction we should advance and what we should do and how,” the Workers’ Party of Korea said in a statement.
SOUTH KOREA IMPOSES A TRAVEL BAN ON PRESIDENT YOON OVER MARTIAL LAW DECLARATION
The meeting came as North Korea faces mounting tension with Western governments after sending troops to assist in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine this fall.
SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT APOLOGIZES FOR DECLARING MARTIAL LAW AHEAD OF IMPEACHMENT VOTE
Kim’s regime also condemned South Korea as an “anti-communist outpost” following this week’s meetings, a reference to President Yoon Suk-Yeoul’s attempt to impose martial law in December.
North Korea had remained silent for roughly a week after Yoon’s attempt, which was foiled by the nation’s legislature. Kim Jong Un’s regime finally commented on the issue through its state-run news outlet on Dec. 11.
“The shocking incident of the puppet Yoon Suk Yeol regime, which was faced with a serious governance crisis and an impeachment crisis, suddenly declared a martial law decree and unhesitatingly wielded the guns and knives of its fascist dictatorship,” KCNA said in a report.
“The international community is sternly watching, with assessments that the martial law incident exposed vulnerabilities in South Korean society … and that Yoon Suk Yeol’s political life could face an early end,” KCNA added.
South Korea’s legislature impeached Yoon soon after his power grab, and a national court is deliberating over whether to uphold his removal.
