Steps needed to tackle growing security threat
North Korea has finally crossed the "red line" by test-firing a new inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) Thursday. Pyongyang said Friday it had successfully launched the Hwasong-17 ICBM the previous day on direct instructions from its leader, Kim Jong-un. Kim cited the need for North Korea "to be fully ready for long-standing confrontation with the U.S. imperialists," according to the North's official media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim made the remark during an on-site inspection of the missile test site.
KCNA quoted Kim as saying, "The new strategic weapon of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will make the whole world clearly aware of the power of our strategic armed forces once again."
We express strong regret over the North's latest provocation, as Kim scrapped his moratorium on nuclear and ICBM missiles announced in April 2018.
President Moon Jae-in convened a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) and strongly condemned the North's test-firing. On Friday, South Korea's unification ministry called on the North to immediately cease such provocative acts that destabilize security on the Korean Peninsula and return to dialogue soon.
The North's move has also prompted the United States to impose new sanctions. The State Department said in a statement, "These measures are part of our ongoing efforts to impede the DPRK's ability to advance its missile program and they highlight the negative role Russia plays on the world stage as a proliferator to programs of concern."
The Hwasong-17 ICBM, also called the "monster" ICBM, was first shown to the public on Oct. 10, 2020, during a military parade ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the North's Workers' Party. As the world's longest ICBM, it can be equipped with multiple warheads and a payload of 1,700 kilograms, with a flying range of 13,000 to 15,000 kilometers, to reach even the U.S. mainland. With the test-firing of such an ICBM, tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula will likely grow further and it could also lead to a confrontation between North Korea and the U.S.
The North's recent move will likely nudge South Korea and the U.S. to deploy strategic weapons such as fighter jets and submarines during the joint military exercises slated for next month. As President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has vowed strong responses to the North's possible provocations, inter-Korean relations will continue to remain frozen.
North Korea seems to have tried to make the most of the unstable international security situation following Russia's sweeping invasion of Ukraine. It is also seeking to build up its nuclear missile capabilities while the U.S. is preoccupied with the war in Ukraine. Further, it is utilizing the power transition period in South Korea to advance its nuclear abilities in preparation for future negotiations with the U.S.
Yet, North Korea should realize that it cannot get what it wants by test-firing an ICBM. The Moon administration and Yoon's transition team should closely cooperate to tackle the growing security threat together.
North Korea has finally crossed the "red line" by test-firing a new inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) Thursday. Pyongyang said Friday it had successfully launched the Hwasong-17 ICBM the previous day on direct instructions from its leader, Kim Jong-un. Kim cited the need for North Korea "to be fully ready for long-standing confrontation with the U.S. imperialists," according to the North's official media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim made the remark during an on-site inspection of the missile test site.
KCNA quoted Kim as saying, "The new strategic weapon of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will make the whole world clearly aware of the power of our strategic armed forces once again."
We express strong regret over the North's latest provocation, as Kim scrapped his moratorium on nuclear and ICBM missiles announced in April 2018.
President Moon Jae-in convened a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) and strongly condemned the North's test-firing. On Friday, South Korea's unification ministry called on the North to immediately cease such provocative acts that destabilize security on the Korean Peninsula and return to dialogue soon.
The North's move has also prompted the United States to impose new sanctions. The State Department said in a statement, "These measures are part of our ongoing efforts to impede the DPRK's ability to advance its missile program and they highlight the negative role Russia plays on the world stage as a proliferator to programs of concern."
The Hwasong-17 ICBM, also called the "monster" ICBM, was first shown to the public on Oct. 10, 2020, during a military parade ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the North's Workers' Party. As the world's longest ICBM, it can be equipped with multiple warheads and a payload of 1,700 kilograms, with a flying range of 13,000 to 15,000 kilometers, to reach even the U.S. mainland. With the test-firing of such an ICBM, tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula will likely grow further and it could also lead to a confrontation between North Korea and the U.S.
The North's recent move will likely nudge South Korea and the U.S. to deploy strategic weapons such as fighter jets and submarines during the joint military exercises slated for next month. As President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has vowed strong responses to the North's possible provocations, inter-Korean relations will continue to remain frozen.
North Korea seems to have tried to make the most of the unstable international security situation following Russia's sweeping invasion of Ukraine. It is also seeking to build up its nuclear missile capabilities while the U.S. is preoccupied with the war in Ukraine. Further, it is utilizing the power transition period in South Korea to advance its nuclear abilities in preparation for future negotiations with the U.S.
Yet, North Korea should realize that it cannot get what it wants by test-firing an ICBM. The Moon administration and Yoon's transition team should closely cooperate to tackle the growing security threat together.
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