North Korea has fired a ballistic missile toward the east, according to officials in Seoul. The timing of this launch aligns with President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Korean Peninsula, heightening diplomatic uncertainty in the region.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised his nation’s fight against what he called a U.S.-led threat. Addressing foreign dignitaries, he promised to make his country “the best socialist paradise in the world,” underscoring his long-term ambitions for the state.

North Korea has intensified its repression by imposing public executions on those who share foreign films and TV, according to the United Nations. Expanding electronic surveillance serves to tighten the regime’s hold over citizens’ access to outside information.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw a test of new air defense missiles, further advancing his regime’s military growth. The move, carried out on Saturday, has raised fresh concerns about escalating tensions in the Korean Peninsula.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised troops who died in what he calls a “heroic war” with Ukraine. In a ceremony to honor the fallen, he awarded medals to soldiers and hinted at deeper military cooperation with Moscow in the future.

North Korea has conducted a new military test, launching two unidentified projectiles into the waters between South Korea and Japan. This marks the second such test this month, raising concerns over regional security and North Korea’s military intentions.

In a bold demonstration of military advancement, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un announced the successful test of a new hypersonic missile designed to deter rivals in the Pacific region. The launch coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to East Asia, signaling potential strategic messaging from Pyongyang.