The test also appears to indicate Pyongyang’s objection to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Beijing.

Pyongyang will likely open room for a summit meeting with Washington while excluding dialogue opportunities with Seoul.

The debut followed the North’s first test of a new surface-to-air missile and the arrival of a U.S. nuclear-powered attack sub for a port call in South Korea.

North Korea has sent thousands of troops to support Russia’s nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Relations with Beijing will also improve considerably. North Korea will seek normalisation of trade relations and economic assistance from China, while China will attempt to manage conflict escalation on the Korean Peninsula. Both China and Russia are likely to show a more tolerant attitude towards North Korea’s nuclear weapons status.

Kim has been presiding over a key party meeting this week as the country prepares for the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.

South ‌Korean ​President Lee ‌Jae Myung arrived in Beijing ​on Sunday to start a four-day ‍state visit to China, ​Chinese state news broadcaster ​CCTV ⁠reported. More than 200 South Korean business leaders are accompanying Lee,