In a significant development, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has personally overseen the successful testing of two missile types. These are tactical ballistic missiles. One missile is equipped with a “super-large conventional warhead.” The other is an “improved” cruise missile. This underscores the ongoing narrative of North Korea testing ballistic missiles, demonstrating once again its focus on enhancing offensive capabilities.
North Korea’s state-run media, KCNA, reported the tests as a direct response. Kim described this as the “grave threat” posed by external forces to the country’s security, showcasing North Korea’s resolve as it tests ballistic missile technologies. Amid these tests, the world closely watches every move as North Korea tests its ballistic capabilities.
The tests featured Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5 missiles, armed with a 4.5-tonne super-large conventional warhead, a weapon that North Korea had previously announced in July. Kim emphasized the importance of continuing to strengthen the country’s nuclear force. He also highlighted the need to achieve overwhelming offensive capabilities in both nuclear and conventional weapons as they pursue further missile enhancements.
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Regional Tensions and Speculation About Arms Exports
Analysts in South Korea and beyond have speculated about North Korea’s recent weapons tests. Such tests of ballistic missiles may be connected to efforts to export military technology to Russia. Pyongyang has denied such claims. They cite ongoing international sanctions. However, the country has significantly deepened military relations with Moscow in recent years, possibly reinforcing its ballistic ambitions.
Last year, Kim Jong Un met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia’s eastern region. Later, Putin visited Pyongyang in June. During his visit, the two leaders signed a mutual defense agreement. Furthermore, Russian security chief Sergei Shoigu was recently in North Korea, further underscoring the growing ties between the two nations, which have become focal points as North Korea tests ballistic capabilities.
Visual Evidence and International Reaction
KCNA released photographs of Kim Jong Un observing the tests, with one image capturing a missile striking a ground target. South Korea’s military confirmed that the missiles launched by North Korea landed in the country’s mountainous northeastern region. These missiles caused no immediate threat outside their borders. However, the tests have prompted renewed calls for vigilance.
They have also raised concerns about the increasing capabilities of North Korea’s missile arsenal, particularly following these ballistic missile tests. Such advancements emphasize how North Korea tests its missile technology to show regional power. Global tensions are increasing. The international community watches closely. They are observing how this latest development will impact the already volatile situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Why does North Korea always launch ballistic missiles
North Korea’s frequent testing of tactical ballistic missiles is not a single-issue decision but a multi-faceted strategy serving several critical purposes for the regime led by Kim Jong Un.
Here are the primary reasons:
1. Military Modernization and Warfighting Strategy
- Deterrence and Defense: North Korea’s core military doctrine is based on deterring what it perceives as a hostile threat from the United States and its allies, primarily South Korea and Japan. By developing and testing these missiles, they are demonstrating and improving a capable deterrent force.
- Tactical vs. Strategic: “Tactical” ballistic missiles are generally shorter-range and are designed for use on a battlefield, as opposed to “strategic” intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) meant to threaten other continents. For North Korea, this means they are intended to:
- Target U.S. military bases and troop concentrations in South Korea and Japan.
- Threaten key infrastructure like airfields, ports, and command centers in the region at the very outset of any potential conflict.
- Potentially carry tactical nuclear weapons to offset the superior conventional military power of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
2. Political Signaling and Diplomacy
- Attracting Attention: Missile tests are a guaranteed way to force the international community, especially the United States, to pay attention to North Korea. It is a tool to signal displeasure, apply pressure, or bring the U.S. back to the negotiating table on Pyongyang’s terms.
- Leverage in Negotiations: Each test demonstrates progress in their weapons programs, increasing the value of what they might theoretically “give up” in future denuclearization talks. It strengthens their bargaining position by showing that their capabilities are advancing, whether talks happen or not.
- Protesting Actions: North Korea often tests in response to actions it dislikes. For example, it frequently launches missiles in response to military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea, which it views as rehearsals for invasion.
3. Domestic Politics and Legitimacy
- Solidifying Kim Jong Un’s Power: The North Korean government uses the narrative of a “besieged fortress” to justify its strict control and the songun (military-first) policy. Successful missile tests are portrayed as great national achievements and victories against foreign adversaries.
- Propaganda Tool: These tests are heavily publicized internally to:
- Boost national pride and unity.
- Legitimize the Kim regime by showing it as a strong leader defying powerful enemies and making the country a formidable military power.
- Justify the immense economic sacrifices the population must make to fund these expensive weapons programs.
4. Technological Development and Validation
- Testing and Improvement: You cannot build a reliable weapons system without testing it. Each launch provides invaluable data on rocket engines, guidance systems, re-entry vehicles, and overall performance. This allows their engineers to identify and fix flaws.
- Proving New Capabilities: Recent tests have focused on demonstrating new and more threatening capabilities, such as:
- Solid-Fuel Missiles: These can be launched much faster than liquid-fueled missiles because they don’t require lengthy fueling procedures on the launch pad, making them harder to detect and destroy pre-emptively.
- Maneuverable Warheads (MaRVs): These warheads can change course during flight, making them much harder for missile defense systems (like THAAD or Aegis) to intercept.
- Multiple Warheads (MIRVs): The ability to put multiple warheads on a single missile, which overwhelms missile defenses.
Summary
In essence, North Korea launches tactical ballistic missiles because it is a highly effective tool that serves multiple goals simultaneously:
- Militarily, it advances their capability to fight a war and deter others.
- Politically, it gives them leverage and forces the world to engage with them.
- Domestically, it reinforces the regime’s power and control.
For the Kim regime, these tests are a rational, calculated strategy to ensure its survival and increase its power on the global stage, despite the international condemnation and sanctions they provoke.
