North Korea and the United States Engage in Intense Standoff Over Ballistic Missile Launches

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] North Korea and the United States have engaged in a war of nerves over ballistic missile launches.

North Korea is gradually raising its level of response toward the United States. Since President Joe Biden's inauguration, North Korea appeared to be observing and monitoring the U.S. policy toward the North without making any specific remarks. However, as the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises began, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Son-hui opened fire with a statement directed at the U.S.

Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, warned that there would be no warm spring in March.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, military provocations continued. North Korea launched cruise missiles on January 22, shortly after President Biden's inauguration, and again on the 21st of this month, followed by its first ballistic missile launch under the Biden administration on the 25th.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 26th, "The National Defense Science Institute conducted a test launch of a newly developed tactical guided missile on March 25." This statement officially confirmed the ballistic missile launch detected by South Korea, the U.S., and Japan the previous morning.

North Korea's full-scale military actions appear to be an expression of dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's approach toward the North.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Despite Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, calling for a halt to all hostile acts and urging the suspension of the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises at the party congress in January, the exercises proceeded as scheduled. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's mention of sensitive human rights issues regarding North Korea during the South Korea-U.S. '2+2 talks' seems to have influenced the military provocations.

The United States did not remain passive either. Secretary Blinken visited Japan and South Korea, strengthening alliances to increase pressure on North Korea. On the 25th (local time), President Biden warned that North Korea's ballistic missile launch violated UN Security Council resolutions, stating, "If they (North Korea) choose to escalate tensions, there will be a response. There will be a corresponding response."

The UN Security Council convened the North Korea Sanctions Committee on the 26th at the U.S.'s request, and Security Council members held a closed remote meeting expressing concern over North Korea's missile launches.

However, both North Korea and the United States seem to be moderating the intensity of their military provocations.

A representative example is that General Secretary Kim did not attend the recent ballistic missile launch site. Kim observed a tactical guided weapons demonstration in March last year and supervised frontline long-range artillery unit training and artillery unit firing competitions four times that same month, but he did not appear at this missile launch site.

Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, who supervised the test launch on the 25th, only indirectly targeted the U.S. and South Korea by mentioning "various military threats existing on the Korean Peninsula."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The United States is also leaving the door open for dialogue. Unlike the Security Council meeting convened last year following ballistic missile launches, the subordinate North Korea Sanctions Committee meeting carried less weight, leading to interpretations that the U.S. may be trying to keep dialogue channels open with North Korea.

President Biden also left room by stating, "We are ready for diplomacy." Kim Jong-un's absence from the ballistic missile launch observation the previous day is interpreted as a move to pressure the U.S. while partially moderating the level of provocation.

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