North Korea on Monday fired a ballistic missile that flew 1,100 kilometers (685 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, South Korea’s military said, extending its weapons testing weeks before Donald Trump returns as U.

This marks North Korea's first major weapons test of the year and it's already been condemned by the US, South Korea, and Japan.

North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile into the East Sea on Monday, South Korea's military said, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul amid a political crisis in the country.

A standoff between rival government forces outside the presidential compound in South Korea is a startling development, even for observers used to the country’s famously rough and tumble politics

The president was suspended from his duties last month following a failed bid to impose martial law and his subsequent impeachment by parliament on December 14. Law enforcement authorities are seeking Yoon’s arrest as part of an investigation into alleged treason and abuse of power.

As Ukrainian forces mount a new offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said that success in this region would improve Kyiv’s bargaining position in any future ceasefire negotiations.

Both Russian and Ukrainian official confirmed the fresh offensive into the Kursk region on Sunday. The Defense Ministry in Moscow said that Russian forces had pushed back Ukrainian troops, though online bloggers said Moscow faced major pressure.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his visit to South Korea, stated that the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region are crucial for future negotiations. “Their position in Kursk is an important one because certainly it's something that would factor in any negotiation that may come about in the coming year,