What does North Korea want when it threatens to attack the US?

North Korea may not actually want a military conflict with the United States despite threatening to launch missiles at Guam. The “wind” may just be a way for Pyongyang to achieve other goals, experts say.

The North Korean military warned earlier this week that it was considering a missile strike on Guam, a strategic US military island with a population of 160,000.

According to the plan, Pyongyang intends to fire four Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missiles at Guam. Although it said that the plan still needs the approval of leader Kim Jong-un, it made it clear that the plan would be completed in the next few days, meaning it would coincide with the time of the US-South Korea joint military exercises.

So what does North Korea really want when it makes such threats?

North Korea has long viewed the United States as an existential threat. It has realized that if it is serious about that threat, it needs to demonstrate military deterrence.

This strategy has been implemented by North Korea for many years, even decades, with the construction of long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads to the US mainland.

However, it is clear that just declaring is not enough, North Korea needs to demonstrate that deterrence. That is why North Korea continuously tests missiles to help the world recognize the country's military technological progress, and to dispel doubts about North Korea's missile capabilities.

North Korean soldiers take photos of South Korean and US soldiers at the truce village of Panmunjom. Photo: Sputnik

Enhance your position

North Korea has repeatedly stated that it has no intention of giving up its nuclear weapons. Experts say that North Korea does not consider them a bargaining chip or use them for war, but simply to enhance its position.

Pyongyang wants Washington to recognize it as a nuclear state like Pakistan and India, and for the US to respect North Korea on par with it.

However, in reality, although the US does not doubt North Korea's nuclear capabilities, it has so far refused to recognize North Korea as a nuclear state, and will not do so in the near future.

Pyongyang continues to pressure Washington to change that stance.

Force US to dialogue

Although US President Donald Trump has expressed a tough stance on North Korea, concerns over Pyongyang's continued missile launches have forced the US to still call for a diplomatic solution to the North Korea issue.

Forcing the US to talk would be seen as a success for North Korea, especially if it is an equal dialogue.

However, observers also point out that North Korea faces many risks when making threatening moves such as missile attacks on the US island of Guam. Specifically, if the missile misses the target, North Korea's deterrence strategy will be "in vain". On the contrary, if it hits the target on Guam, the consequences will be extremely catastrophic.

Security and survival of government

What North Korea wants most is security, the survival of the regime. They don't want all of that threatened or affected by economic sanctions.

North Korea wants a formal peace treaty to replace the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. To achieve this, North Korea needs a significant change in its relationship not only with the United States but also with China, South Korea, Japan and even Russia.

In theory, North Korea cannot start a new war if it wants a peace treaty. But no one can be sure how North Korea will act to achieve its goals.

According to Dan Tri