North Korea's ICBM Launch 'Fifth This Year' ... US Strategy Considering Trump Reelection

5th ICBM Launch This Year... Military Satellite Also Successful
"Missile Technology Rapidly Advanced After North Korea-Russia Arms Deal"

There is a claim that the background behind North Korea's fifth intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch this year and its repeated emphasis on nuclear threats, including mentioning "not hesitating to carry out a nuclear attack," is the upcoming U.S. presidential election. It is suggested that North Korea is showcasing its nuclear capabilities to gain an advantageous position in nuclear disarmament negotiations, keeping in mind the possibility of former President Donald Trump’s re-election.

On the 22nd, Tae Yong-ho, a member of the People Power Party and former North Korean diplomat, analyzed on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that North Korea is continuously sending messages that it can attack the U.S. mainland with nuclear weapons. He said, "(North Korea’s) nuclear dismantlement or abandonment is now impossible. Therefore, they are continuously sending messages like 'I can also attack the U.S. with nuclear weapons, have you seen the success of the solid-fuel based engine?'" He pointed out two notable aspects of recent North Korean missile launches: ▲ rapid advancement in ballistic missile technology ▲ the U.S. presidential election.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Recently, North Korea succeeded in launching the solid-fuel based Hwasong-18 missile. While the launches in April and July were termed 'test launches,' the launch on the 18th used the term 'launch drill,' suggesting that actual deployment is imminent. The Hwasong-15 and 17 missiles launched in February and March were liquid-fueled. Liquid fuel requires a lengthy fueling process before launch, but solid fuel has the advantage of easier storage and handling, allowing for rapid launch in emergencies.

Representative Tae said, "In the second half of this year, as weapons transactions between North Korea and Russia have intensified, North Korea’s ballistic missile technology has rapidly advanced," adding, "They recently also placed a military reconnaissance satellite into orbit, and the solid-fuel based ICBM Hwasong-18 launched this time successfully achieved high-altitude entry."

He also presented an analysis that North Korea is repeatedly issuing nuclear threats to gain an advantageous position in nuclear disarmament negotiations, keeping in mind Trump’s potential re-election. Tae stated, "In Trump’s presidential campaign, there is talk that 'if re-elected, he will negotiate nuclear disarmament with North Korea to reduce the threat to the U.S., allowing the U.S. to focus on containing China,'" and added, "For Kim Jong-un, Trump’s re-election is another opportunity."

He continued, "During the election period, North Korea is using a strategy of continuously escalating provocations with nuclear weapons to preemptively secure a position for future nuclear disarmament negotiations," and added, "Trump says, 'President Biden has not resolved anything. If I am elected, I will resolve it because I have a good relationship with Kim Jong-un.' The direction is moving toward inevitably recognizing North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed state."

However, the South Korean military believes that North Korea has not yet perfected ICBM technology. Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said in a briefing to the National Assembly’s Defense Committee the day before, "The actual deployment of the solid-fuel ICBM Hwasong-18 is exaggerated," and judged, "Even the U.S. and South Korea, which have advanced technology, can only have reconnaissance satellites perform missions about 5 to 6 months after launch, so the claim that North Korea’s satellite performs normal missions just about ten days after launch is an excessive exaggeration that does not consider their technological capabilities."