Decoding North Korea's intention to launch missiles continuously

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) this morning (June 22) launched two missiles from its east coast, both believed to be Musudan medium-range missiles.

CNN quoted Commander Dave Benham, spokesman for the US Pacific Command, as saying that the two launches were carried out from the port city of Wonsan and did not pose a threat to the North American region. According to the South Korean military, the first launch at 5:58 am (local time) was unsuccessful. Two hours later, at 8:05 am, the second missile was launched, flying 150 km.

North Korea shows off Musudan missiles at a military parade. (Photo: Yonhap)

The US State Department immediately condemned the event: "We have information that North Korea fired two ballistic missiles. We are monitoring and continue to assess the situation in close coordination with our allies and partners in the region."

The United States urged North Korea to stop ballistic missile tests, stressing that the Pyongyang government's actions only made the international community push for sanctions against the country.

This year, North Korea has been very interested in the Musudan missile, a weapon with a range of 3,000-5,500km. In May, the country conducted its fourth Musudan test, but the missile exploded immediately after leaving the launch pad.

In late April, a dual test of two Musudan missiles also failed. Earlier, on the occasion of the birthday of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung, North Korea tested a missile but failed.

According to analysts, North Korea may continue to test-fire missiles at the same intensity as at the beginning of the year. Stephan Haggard - Director of the Korea-Pacific Program at the University of California San Diego, Pyongyang is doing so due to increasing financial challenges.

The Kim Jong-un regime has just been hit with new UN sanctions, which are aimed at blocking its access to the international financial system. The Kaesong industrial complex jointly run by North and South Korea has been closed by Seoul.

“North Korea is starting to feel some pretty significant economic pain,” Haggard said. “Part of the idea is to bring attention back to North Korea, so they may think sanctions will be eased.”

North Korea also wants to develop missiles because it is also a way to deliver nuclear weapons, according to this expert. "You can develop a nuclear device, but if you can't launch it, it has no strategic value." And, without a technically capable air force or submarine, developing missiles is the only way.

Nuclear weapons give the Kim Jong-un regime bargaining power with the rest of the world, Haggard explained. “The farther they go, the higher the price the outside community will have to pay to get rid of them,” he said.

Kim Jong-un has been ramping up his nuclear and missile capabilities at a faster pace than his father, the late Kim Jong-il. In an interview with CNN earlier this month, South Korean Defense Minister Han Minkoo pointed out that in the 18 years Kim Jong-il led the country, North Korea conducted 18 missile tests. But in just the four years Kim Jong-un took power, North Korea has conducted 27 tests, including the two launches this morning.

According to Vietnamnet