US condemns missile testing in North Korea

The United States believes North Korea is “destabilizing” by retesting the missiles after a one-year hiatus. The US State Department said so tonight, after North Korea launched two copies of a new type of ballistic missile earlier today. Missiles were also fired last weekend.

The objects hit a target 600 kilometers away, near Japan, according to North Korea. According to South Korea and Japan, the distance was shorter; about 450 kilometers. Experts say it is an improved version of the KN-23 missile, which now has a heavier 2.5-ton warhead. North Korea is said to have developed this ballistic missile to conduct a precision attack on South Korea.

Analysts also suspect that with the tests, North Korea wants to pressure Washington to relax sanctions against the country. The Kim Jong-un regime is struggling economically because of all the sanctions from the United States and the United Nations. Under former President Donald Trump, there seemed to be a rapprochement between the United States and North Korea, but it ultimately failed.

Sanctions Committee

At the request of the United States, the Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council will meet tomorrow. This means Washington does not want to blow the tower too high diplomatically. The convening of the Sanctions Committee is a step lower on the diplomatic ladder than a meeting of the Security Council with ambassadors.

US President Joe Biden has said he is “open to diplomacy, provided it ultimately leads to denuclearization.” This makes it unlikely that North Korea will respond to Biden’s words. North Korea is determined to keep its nuclear weapons at all costs because it is convinced that it can deter America from ever invading the country.

Biden also said North Korea was the most pressing foreign policy issue. After taking office, diplomatic efforts were reportedly unsuccessful through various channels create a contact with North Korea.