Launching Possibly New Type Missile

Defying consecutive international pressure for abandoning its intimidation, North Korea launched a ballistic missile to Japan Sea in Sunday morning. As supposed with its achievement of reaching over 2,000 kilometers of altitude, the missile can be a new type of that, indicating improvement of North Korean missile technology. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea announced that the missile test was successful.

The missile was launched from around Kusong, located in Northwest of Pyongyang in the early morning. It flew for thirty minutes, reaching 400 kilometers away from eastern shore of Korean Peninsula, the point which was out of Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Japanese Minister of Defense released a comment that the missile was possibly a new type of one, analyzing with the result of reaching 2,000 kilometers of altitude.

It was the first missile launch of North Korea since last attempt in late April. “Consecutive missile launch by North Korea is significant threat against our nation and violates the resolutions of United Nations Security Council. I strongly protest North Korea,” announced Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe convoked meetings of National Security Council in Prime Minister’s Official Residence.

The missile seemed to have taken lofted trajectory, which was in an extraordinarily high altitude to make the missile accelerated in its terminal phase for not being intercepted. North Korea might have disclosed its capability of raising the missile to 4,000 kilometers of altitude. While an official in Japanese government commented that North Korea was improving its missile technology, United States Pacific Command found the trajectory not matching that of inter-continental ballistic missile.

What was the message from North Korea this time? There was an international conference in China, which was for selling Chinese international economic initiative called One Belt One Road. It is highly possible that Kim Jong-un regime tried to damage international leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who had recently been negative on North’s intimidation with nuclear and missile development. North Korean must have been embracing bitter sentiment against China-U.S. relationship getting closer.

New administration led by President Moon Jae-in had to rethink its diplomacy mainly based on dialogue with North Korea. South Korean government is accelerating its development of anti-ballistic missile defense. Japan has nothing but to make closer communication with U.S. and South Korea. “Exchanging information with U.S. or South Korea, we are doing our best to maintain safety and comfort of Japanese people,” explained Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga.