{
  "id": 9272438,
  "title": "Did North Korea’s missile launches target the Xi-Trump summit agenda?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/did-north-koreas-missile-launches-target-the-xi-trump-summit-agenda",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T05:00:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368428/did-north-koreas-missile-launches-target-xi-trump-summit-agenda"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "North Korea's recent missile tests have raised concerns that the country may be using these launches to steer the agenda away from denuclearisation during the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. On Sunday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles, with the first traveling about 450km and the second exceeding 600km. Analysts suggest these tests were aimed at reinforcing North Korea's stance that denuclearisation cannot occur until the US officially recognizes the nation as a nuclear power. This comes just eight days after a mix of multiple short-range ballistic missiles, attack drones, tactical cruise missiles, and multiple rocket launchers were fired on September 12, days after the US-South Korea military drill concluded. North Korea typically launches missile tests in the lead-up to major diplomatic or military events to draw international attention and leverage. This move is particularly concerning as it occurred shortly before Xi Jinping's visit to the US for a summit with Trump. North Korea's actions have been observed by experts as an attempt to block cooperation between the US and China regarding the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. While the Xi-Trump summit statement initially indicated a shared goal to denuclearise North Korea, China has since reduced diplomatic and defence ties with Pyongyang, seemingly endorsing North Korea's nuclear position.",
  "summary": "North Korea could be using missile tests to take its denuclearisation off the US-China summit agenda and drive home its demands for recognition as a nuclear power as a prerequisite for talks with Washington, according to analysts. On Sunday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, which, according to South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff, were…",
  "key_points": [
    "North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Sunday.",
    "Analysts believe launches aimed to prioritize nuclear recognition.",
    "Pre-summit missile tests raise concerns about denuclearization agenda."
  ],
  "editors_take": "North Korea's missile launches appear to be an attempt to block US-China cooperation on denuclearisation and steer the agenda away from the issue ahead of the Xi-Trump summit.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
        "title": "Did North Korea’s missile launches target the Xi-Trump summit agenda?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/did-north-koreas-missile-launches-target-the-xi-trump-summit-agenda-9272748",
        "published": "2026-09-23T05:00:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hankyoreh",
        "title": "North Korea claims Sunday’s launches were of upgraded hypersonic missiles",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/north-korea-claims-sundays-launches-were-of-upgraded-hypersonic",
        "published": "2026-09-23T05:05:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "President puts multilateralism at center of diplomacy on North Korea, Hormuz issue",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/president-puts-multilateralism-at-center-of-diplomacy-on-north-korea",
        "published": "2026-09-23T05:17:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}