Japanese Media: "North Korea May Reveal ICBM After Destroying Liaison Office"

"Possibility of Gradually Proceeding from Low-Level Provocations"

The image shows North Korea demolishing the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office building within the Kaesong Industrial Complex. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Following the demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, Japanese media reported the possibility that North Korea may unveil a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

On the 17th (local time), the Japanese outlet Asahi Shimbun analyzed that the background behind North Korea's demolition of the liaison office was due not only to anti-North Korean leaflets but also to growing distrust toward South Korea regarding the lifting of economic sanctions and the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The media cited analyses from North Korea experts, stating, "North Korea is suffering from (COVID-19), but it perceives that South Korea, while watching the U.S., has been invisible in areas such as quarantine and medical support," and reported that Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s State Affairs Commission Chairman, appears to be angered by South Korea’s attitude.

Regarding why North Korea demolished the liaison office on the 16th, not on the 15th, which marked the 20th anniversary of the June 15th Joint Declaration, it was analyzed that Kim Jong-un carried out the demolition a day after South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s appeal for inter-Korean economic cooperation, aiming to maximize the impact on the South.

Professor Kim Dong-yeop of Gyeongnam National University said in an interview with the media on the same day, "North Korea will create a schedule and start with low-level provocations, gradually advancing while observing the South Korean government's response," adding, "There could also be a reveal of a new ICBM."

Meanwhile, North Korea announced plans to redeploy military units to the Kumgangsan tourism zone, Kaesong Industrial Complex, and guard posts within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), as well as to resume military exercises in the West Sea.

A spokesperson for the General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army issued a statement titled "Our military will thoroughly guarantee all internal and external measures taken by the Party and government militarily" to the Korean Central News Agency on the same day, stating, "We will deploy regiment-level units responsible for defense missions and necessary firepower units," and "We will redeploy and advance the civilian guard posts withdrawn from the DMZ according to the inter-Korean military agreement, and will strengthen frontline guard duties with ironclad vigilance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.