North Koreas Staccato Missiles Accelerate East Asias Arms Race

North Korea’s Staccato Missiles Accelerate East Asia’s Arms Race

The flexing of Pyongyang’s muscles is causing alarm in Seoul and Tokyo, where its own nuclear weapons programs are being openly considered.

North Korea is increasing the frequency of its missile tests: according to the South Korean military on Monday, there were two short-range missiles. The Japanese coast guard even registered three impacts in a few minutes. The regime had already fired a ballistic missile on Saturday that hit the sea in the target area west of Hokkaido, but it could also have destroyed an airfield in Japan.

North Korean propaganda hailed the “successful surprise exercise” as “demonstrating the capability of a deadly retaliatory nuclear strike”. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida therefore wants to request an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Tests of these long-range ballistic missiles are banned by North Korea under UN resolutions because they are considered important carriers of nuclear weapons. But that need not worry dictator Kim Jong-un, as long as the veto powers of the UN, China and Russia, block the condemnation of his ally.

Dummies or Mega Missiles?

The Saturday afternoon test shows a new quality. Allegedly, the Hwasong-15 was fired from a mobile ramp positioned at the Pyongyang airfield. It is said that the direct order of the dictator Kim was given only in the morning. The short time window indicates that this missile was powered by solid propellant. These rockets are much more flexible in terms of deployment, as they don’t need to be refueled beforehand with liquid fuel, which satellites would figure out. And there is a risk of further escalation: the powerful dictator’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, said the Pacific was increasingly being used as a “firing range”.

Just last Wednesday, the dictator presented even more powerful projectiles in his night parade in Pyongyang’s square, named after his grandfather Kim Il-sung. Experts counted ten to twelve Hwasong-17 ICBMs, more than any previous public demonstration. In the light of headlights, even experts find it hard to tell whether all these biggest missiles in North Korea’s arsenal are airworthy or just fakes, but with their gigantic range they would not only pose a threat to neighboring South Korea, Japan. and Hawaii, but also could also pose a threat to the American continent -Meet.

Reluctance because of China?

What is lost in the outrage over provocative rocket launches is that North Korea is testing its military technology for reliability and shortcomings. Since 2022, Pyongyang has tested at least 73 ballistic missiles, 42 of them in just the past four months. However, it is noteworthy that, despite months of speculation, the regime has not dared to prove its nuclear capabilities through further tests – even though preparations for another nuclear test were likely long since completed.

It can be assumed that the restraining order came from China. Beijing fears Pyongyang will open Pandora’s box by resuming nuclear tests. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has publicly considered keeping open the option of a nuclear weapons program should the North’s nuclear threat grow further. If Seoul were fighting for nuclear weapons, Tokyo might follow: a nuclear arms race in East Asia threatens.

More than 50 nuclear reactors

Because of the negative attitude of the Japanese population, Kishida has yet to comment on this. But its military officials are increasingly pointing out that Japan has the technological capability to do this – and fast. Japan has more than 50 nuclear reactors and is one of the few countries with highly developed space research. Until now, Tokyo has relied on the US ally for nuclear protection, but there are enough political forces pushing for independence.