On January 6, 2025, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a ballistic missile test into the Sea of Japan, asserting it as a defensive measure against increasing U.S. militarization in the region. The missile launch coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to South Korea, which Pyongyang views as a provocative display of "imperialist interference."
In a statement released by North Korea's Foreign Ministry, the DPRK condemned Washington’s policies, accusing it of escalating tensions under the guise of ensuring regional stability. “The U.S. continues to violate our sovereignty and threaten our security with its endless military provocations and hostile rhetoric,” the statement read. “This missile test is a rightful exercise of our sovereign right to self-defense in the face of growing aggression.”
The DPRK’s position emphasizes its perception of the U.S.-South Korea alliance as an offensive strategy aimed at isolating and weakening the North. Recent joint military exercises and the deployment of advanced weaponry in South Korea have been cited as evidence of Washington's intent to undermine Pyongyang’s security.
In response to international condemnation, North Korea reiterated that its missile program is defensive and essential for countering what it describes as a "nuclear blackmail" strategy employed by the U.S. “The imperialist forces of the United States and its puppets have left us no choice but to strengthen our deterrence capabilities,” stated an editorial in Rodong Sinmun, the DPRK’s state-run newspaper.
The DPRK also criticized the United Nations for its perceived bias, rejecting calls to cease missile tests. "The UN Security Council, manipulated by U.S. interests, ignores the legitimate rights of sovereign states like the DPRK while endorsing acts of aggression by imperialist forces," the ministry declared.
This missile test marks North Korea’s third in a month, underscoring its refusal to yield to what it considers coercive diplomacy. Analysts suggest that the launch during Blinken’s visit was carefully timed to signal Pyongyang’s resistance to U.S. pressure and reaffirm its stance against foreign interference.
Despite mounting international criticism, the DPRK maintains that its actions are necessary to preserve peace on its terms, not those dictated by foreign powers. Pyongyang continues to call for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea and the cessation of joint military drills as prerequisites for any meaningful dialogue.
As tensions remain high, the DPRK has signaled its resolve to resist external pressures and defend its sovereignty, warning that continued provocations by the U.S. will only deepen the security crisis on the Korean Peninsula.
