Fears of WWIII heighten as North Korea launch pair of ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan

Just days after the dystopian Doomsday Clock edged closer to midnight (and our supposed destruction) than ever before, another political powerhouse has us fearing that World War III could soon be unleashed upon the world.

If world leaders being captured wasn't enough, President Donald Trump has set his sights on Greenland, there are concerns the dollar is about to collapse, and fears about the Nipah virus causing another pandemic.

With all of that falling in the first 31 days of the year, is it any surprise the Doomsday Clock leaped forward four seconds?

Even though much of the WWIII discourse from 2025 centered on Russia and its potential with nuclear weapons, North Korea has made its position clear after it fired a pair of supposedly nuclear-capable missiles into the Sea of Japan.

The report comes courtesy of Kim Jong Un's neighbors, as South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff claimed the short-range missiles were launched from near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.

Both are said to have flown for around 350 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan.

This was backed up by Japan’s Defense Ministry, which confirmed the launch of two missiles that landed off the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula. Japan has since condemned the launches as a threat to peace in the country and internationally.

Thought to serve as a test of the KN-25 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), they have an estimated range of 400km and could easily hit targets within South Korea.

If this wasn't alarming enough, North Korea has said that these kinds of missiles are capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

With South Korea being an ally of the USA, it has already responded to the test.

In a statement, the South Korea-stationed US Forces Korea (USFK) said that while it will continue to defend the country, current assessments suggest "this event does not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or to our allies."

Only a few countries are reported to have hypersonic ballistic missiles:
•China 🇨🇳
•Russia 🇷🇺
•Iran
•North Korea 🇰🇵

Not the United States.
Not a single NATO country.

That’s the reality—at least for now. pic.twitter.com/IZSeIWwMM6

— SilencedSirs◼️ (@SilentlySirs) January 26, 2026

Elsewhere, the director-general for Korean Peninsula policy at South Korea’s foreign ministry, the US State Department's acting deputy assistant, and the deputy director-general of the Asia and Oceania bureau at Japan’s foreign ministry held a joint telephone discussion.

The three agreed that North Korea had violated United Nations Security Council resolutions, while demanding that Pyongyang stop further tests.

All of them said they will continue coordinating while keeping an eye on whether the situation escalates further.

North Korea has continued to test weapons, with long-range, strategic cruise missiles in December, supposed hypersonic missiles in January, and photographs appearing to showcase its first nuclear-powered submarine.

With the suggestion being that Kim Jong Un thinks a larger arsenal will help him take on the USA, mentions of 'WWIII' are increasing at an alarming rate.