North Korea tests ballistic missiles — what are Kim Jong-un's goals?

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched what are believed to be seven short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of ​​Japan, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reports. This is the second such test recently — earlier, on October 31, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was launched. FREEDOM informs about the situation in the region today, November 6.

“According to the estimates of officials, at least seven missiles reached a maximum height of about 100 kilometers and flew about 400 kilometers. North Korea launched what it says is the latest ICBM model last Thursday (Oct. 31 – ed.). Tuesday's launch marked the 13th time this year that Pyongyang has launched ballistic missiles or projectiles that could be ballistic missiles,”, — reports TV channel NHK with reference to the Ministry of Defense of Japan.

The leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong-un, called the ICBM test a “reply to the enemies”. Pyongyang's missile tests violate UN Security Council sanctions.

South Korea, the United States and Japan conducted joint exercises Sunday, November 3, involving at least one B-1 Lancer bomber south of the Korean Peninsula.

“The trilateral drills took place over waters east of South Korea's Jeju Island amid heightened tensions after North Korea launched a new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile into the East Sea on Thursday, the first launch of a long-range ballistic missile this year.” — the Yonhap agency quotes the statement of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Kim Jong-un's sister, Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yo-jong, said on November 5 that the DPRK will not allow a violation of the parity of military forces on the peninsula.

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“Today, a violation of the parity of forces between the enemies and us on the Korean peninsula and in the region — it immediately means war, such an objective reality that cannot be denied. The DPRK's line of building up a self-defense nuclear deterrent is the only and most accurate choice in the current situation, and we will never hesitate on this path,”, — Kim Yo Jong is quoted by the North Korean state news agency KCNA.

Pyongyang's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile came shortly after South Korea and the United States accused North Korea of ​​deploying troops to Russia to support Putin in his war against Ukraine. From 2024, Pyongyang and Moscow will be bound by a new treaty on a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, including military aid.

On the part of North Korea, this is an illustration of loyalty to the Kremlin in the context of supporting Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and it is also important for the DPRK to gain some real experience of conducting hostilities in modern conditions. By making such a decision, Kim Jong-un also demonstrates North Korea's potential preparations for a clash with South Korea, as these two countries are effectively in a state of frozen conflict.

Putin's decision to involve North Korean soldiers in the war against Ukraine, and also the activation of Pyongyang in the issue of missile tests on the eve of the US elections — this is an increase in rates, experts are sure.

“This increase in rates, unfortunately, makes the situation even more difficult for us in the first place to make certain decisions, especially if we do not feel a reaction from our Western partners to the new stages of the Russian war. It is necessary to understand that this is a threat, a threat that has not disappeared for many years, and a threat that is now helping the Russian aggressor to further destabilize the situation both in Europe and potentially globally.”, — noted candidate of political sciences, founder of the NGO “SD Platforma” Bohdan Ferens.