“North Korea is likely to wait for the situation early this year” Observation prevails
Last 5 days, missile launch… Resuming weapon tests from the beginning of the year
No mention of North Korea, South Korea and the US… “Part of the national defense modernization plan”
Even if the conversation starts in the future, the test launch seems to continue
[앵커]
There were many observations that North Korea would spend the first half quietly while examining the complicated situation as it did not issue a special message to the outside world at the beginning of the new year.
Contrary to expectations, it has been conducting missile tests since the beginning of the year.
As they insist on developing weapons for strengthening self-defense rather than ‘provocation’, it is highly likely that they will continue test firing with improvement of strategic weapons in the future.
Reporter Han Yeon-hee reports.
[기자]
This year, the prevailing view was that North Korea would not actively engage in missile tests for the time being.
As China’s ally, China’s Beijing Olympics, is ahead, and uncertain situations such as the US-China conflict continue, there is a high possibility that we will wait and see the situation at the beginning of the year.
[이기태 / 통일연구원 평화연구실장 (지난달, 2022 한반도 연례정세전망) : 베이징 동계올림픽·패럴림픽, 그리고 북한의 상황관리 기조가 당분간 지속될 전망을 고려한다면, 상반기보다는 하반기인 8월 한미연합 군사훈련 시점을 전후로 북한이 전략무기 실험을 단행하고….]
However, in spite of this prospect, North Korea resumed missile test-fires from the beginning of the year.
[조선중앙TV : 국방과학원은 1월 5일 극초음속미사일시험발사를 진행하였습니다.]
However, there was no mention or expression aimed at the ROK and the United States, only the aspect of being part of its own defense force modernization plan with a picture was emphasized.
The missile test launch is not a provocation once morest South Korea, but rather the normal development of weapons that other countries are pursuing, one by one, the five-year plan.
[박원곤 / 이화여대 북한학과 교수 : 다른 국가와 마찬가지로 자신들의 방위력을 위해 이런 미사일 발사 시험을 하고 있다는 것…. 1월부터 12월까지 자신들의 계획이 있겠죠. 그래서 1월부터 시작해서 앞으로 미사일을 계속 쏠 가능성이 있어 보여요.]
As North Korea spurs its military power increase by promoting the withdrawal of the ‘double standard’, the goal it is aiming at is the recognition of a ‘normal state’ and furthermore, a ‘nuclear state’.
Therefore, unlike in the past, which refrained from firing missiles once dialogue began, North Korea is expected to continue testing missiles and other missiles under the pretext of strengthening self-defense even if inter-Korean or North Korea-US dialogue resumes in the future.
This is YTN Han Yeon-hee.
YTN Han Yeon-hee (hyheee@ytn.co.kr)
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