North Korea fires ballistic missile as Blinken visits Seoul By Reuters

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast on Monday, coinciding with a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Seoul during a period of political unrest in South Korea.

The South Korean military confirmed the shootdown, while the Japanese coast guard also said a projectile believed to be a missile fired by North Korea had crashed.

Earlier on Monday, Blinken met with acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok and emphasized Washington’s “unwavering” defense commitment to the country and called for close diplomatic and security communication to deter possible provocations from North Korea, an official statement said.

Choi is standing up for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 stunned the country and led to his suspension from office on Dec. 14.

Monday’s launch was Pyongyang’s first since November 5, when the country fired at least seven short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast.