The U.S. secretary of state aimed to show that his country stood by South Korea as it grapples with a political crisis, and as Donald J. Trump returns to power.

The JCS said the South Korean military has heightened surveillance for additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture to share info with the U.S. and Japan.

North Korea test-fired an intermediate range ballistic missile while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in South Korea.

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,

South Korea's political divisions are intensifying as opposition parties seek the arrest of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol while Yoon's ruling party seeks to distance itself from the president to maintain its fragile grip on power,

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.