North Korea's failed missile launch premeditated?

North Korea fired an intercontinental missile from the Sinpo area, but the missile blew up immediately after its launch on Apr. 16. / Korea Times file

By Eom Da-sol

North Korea’s failed missile launch on Apr. 16 was the rogue state’s deliberate plan to ease tension with the U.S. and keep its dignity by continuing the annual tradition, a Chinese military expert suggests.

North Korea deliberately arranged the failure avoided a U.S. retaliatory attack against its military provocation, while not giving up on its traditional ceremony of test-firing ballistic weapon systems, according to Luo Fu-qiang on Phoenix Television, a Chinese broadcaster, on Apr. 17.

North Korea fired an intercontinental missile from Sinpo area, but the missile exploded immediately upon launch early on Sunday.

“As the U.S. rearranged two of its aircraft carriers closer to the Korean peninsula and conducted air attacks in Syria, North Korea must have been seriously threatened,” Luo said.

“North Korean leader Kim Jong-un chose the missile launch out of a full range of options, enabling the annual tradition to continue but avoiding possible justification for the U.S. to attack.”

Luo also said the missile launch reinforced Kim’s status as a firm leader of his people.

“Kim might have wanted to argue domestically and internationally that he is not afraid of the retaliatory measures, but it turns out there was an unexpected glitch in the missile launch,” Luo said.

“Kim is young, but we should not underestimate his intentions.”