International Tensions Rise as North Korea Launches Missiles, US Considers New Tariffs, and Azerbaijan Foils Embassy Attack

International tensions escalated on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as North Korea launched suspected ballistic missiles into the sea, the United States considered imposing new tariffs on South Korea, and Azerbaijan authorities arrested individuals planning an attack on an embassy in Baku.

North Korea's launch of suspected ballistic missiles marked the second such event this month, following a volley on January 4, according to reports from Seoul and Tokyo. Al Jazeera reported that the launches occurred as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung commenced a state visit to China, potentially indicating a weapons test ahead of a major political congress in North Korea.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump announced intentions to raise tariffs on South Korean goods, including automobiles, lumber, and pharmaceuticals. In a social media post, Trump accused South Korea of not adhering to a trade deal struck the previous year, causing a temporary dip in Korean carmakers' stock prices, according to The Guardian. Trump stated that the tariffs paid on South Korean exports to America would increase.

In Azerbaijan, security forces apprehended three individuals allegedly plotting an attack on an embassy in Baku. The State Security Service stated that the suspects conspired with members of the ISIL (ISIS) affiliate in Khorasan province (ISKP), an Afghan offshoot of the armed group, according to Al Jazeera. The suspects, born in 2000 and 2005, had obtained weapons and were planning to attack an embassy before their arrest. They face charges of preparation for terrorism on religious grounds.

In other news involving the Trump administration, ICE agents are slated to have a security role at the Winter Olympics in Italy. According to Sky News, Associated Press sources within the U.S. embassy in Rome confirmed that the officers will support diplomatic security details at the Milan Cortina Games. This development comes as the individual who spearheaded the Trump administration's crackdown in Minneapolis is being reassigned.

Also, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Trump, presented a master plan for post-war Gaza. According to Al Jazeera, the plan promises to rebuild Gaza with residential towers, data centers, seaside resorts, parks, sports facilities, and an airport. Kushner stated, "There is no Plan B," while unveiling the plan with AI-generated images and a color-coded map. The proposal was reportedly developed without consulting Palestinians in Gaza.