North Korea Launches Another Missile After Six Days... Furious Over South Korea-US Underestimation?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea launched a ballistic missile suspected projectile on the 11th, six days after the launch on the 5th. As South Korean and U.S. defense authorities cast doubtful eyes on North Korea's claim of launching a hypersonic missile, which is considered one of the 'five major tasks,' there is analysis that North Korea may have launched additional missiles to prove its development capability.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on the 11th, "At around 7:27 a.m., we detected one ballistic missile suspected projectile launched by North Korea from inland toward the East Sea." Detailed specifications are currently being analyzed by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities. This is the second time this year that North Korea has launched a ballistic missile suspected projectile, six days after the first launch on the 5th.

Since North Korea claims that the projectile launched on the 5th was a 'hypersonic missile,' the possibility that this projectile is of the same type cannot be ruled out. North Korea refers to hypersonic missiles as "the most important core task among the five major tasks in the strategic weapons sector of the five-year plan" and places great importance on them.

South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities view North Korea's claims with skepticism. The Ministry of National Defense stated in an analysis document distributed to reporters on the 7th, "the hypersonic flight technology has not been achieved," arguing that the performance was exaggerated. The U.S. Department of Defense also maintains the designation 'ballistic missile,' saying it is "still evaluating the details."

Experts analyze that North Korea, angered by the underestimation by South Korean and U.S. authorities, may have conducted another test launch to prove its missile development capability. Jung Sung-jang, head of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, said, "North Korean leadership is likely furious over South Korea's Ministry of National Defense's public evaluation on the 7th that the recent test launch was not a hypersonic missile but a generally exaggerated ballistic missile," adding, "They may continue to conduct missile test launches consecutively to irrefutably prove their development capability."

Since the launch occurred immediately after a closed meeting of the UN Security Council, it can also be interpreted as a message to the international community calling for the elimination of 'double standards.' Park Won-gon, professor of North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University, analyzed, "Through the normalization of provocations, they politically pressure for the withdrawal of double standards by asserting the legitimacy of their weapons development," adding, "Especially considering that the UN Security Council meeting was held early this morning, they may criticize the UN's double standards that label their legitimate weapons development as illegal."

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