Mere hours before US President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea for this week’s Apec summit, Pyongyang launched a salvo of ship-based cruise missiles in an act analysts viewed as a calculated bid to reinforce its nuclear credentials.

The missiles, described by North Korean state media as enhanced models optimised for ship-based launches, were fired vertically on Tuesday, reportedly soaring for about 7,800 seconds – more than two hours – before striking their land-based target. Pyongyang claims its arsenal is capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Notably absent from the test was supreme leader Kim Jong-un and the launch went unreported by the official Workers’ Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun. Instead, senior military officials including Pak Jong-chon, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, oversaw proceedings.
US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to South Korea on Wednesday. Photo: AP

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to South Korea on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Trump was due to arrive in the South Korean city of Gyeongju on Wednesday to join other heads of state and business leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Asked on Wednesday about the launch, Trump brushed off concerns, reportedly saying of Kim: “He’s been launching missiles for decades, right?”

He told reporters aboard Air Force One that he expected to hold a meeting with the North Korean leader “at some point in the not too distant future”, reiterating that the pair “had a really good understanding of each other”.