[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] As North Korea continues its military provocations by launching its fourth missile of the new year, tensions on the Korean Peninsula are escalating.
The United States plans to keep diplomatic options open toward North Korea while also implementing strong measures such as additional sanctions, suggesting that the North Korea-US relationship will remain in a ‘strongman versus strongman’ mode for the time being.
According to diplomatic sources on the 17th, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Japan Coast Guard announced that North Korea launched a projectile of an unidentified type that morning. The specifications such as range, altitude, and speed are currently under analysis. This missile launch marks the fourth this year.
In response to two missile launches earlier this year, the Biden administration unveiled sanctions against North Korea, to which North Korea has responded with a series of military provocations at three-day intervals.
Furthermore, North Korea has been emphasizing pride in its military capabilities while increasing its criticism of the United States.
The external propaganda outlet Chosun Today stated on the 16th, “The invincible and mighty military power of Juche Korea is shaking the world,” and claimed, “The entire country is filled with confidence and joy over the great success of our Juche weapons and the hypersonic missile test launch.”
It continued, “In an era when a weak fist must wipe away tears of defeat with that same fist, is this merely a memory of the past?” and emphasized, “We have learned the truth that only strength can protect a nation’s sovereignty and dignity.” It attributed the background of the hypersonic missile test launch to the ‘harsh international situation.’
North Korea also strongly criticized the South Korea-US alliance.
The external propaganda outlet Uri Minjok Kkiri on the 17th published an article titled “Frequent Lightning Brings Thunder,” mentioning South Korea’s regular artillery firing and outdoor cold-weather training, as well as the participation of naval maritime patrol aircraft in the multinational joint exercise “Sea Dragon” led by the US 7th Fleet, and condemned, “They talk endlessly about ‘peace,’ but in reality, they are frantically stirring up war provocations.”
North Korea thus shows a dual attitude: expressing pride in its missile launches while criticizing military exercises conducted under the South Korea-US alliance.
A diplomatic expert said, “The United States will not end its hardline stance toward North Korea in the short term while North Korea continues its military provocations,” adding, “North Korea is expected to continue military provocations and lay long-term groundwork rather than returning to the dialogue table anytime soon.”
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