Chinese State Media: Japan Poses Greater Threat Than North Korea's Hypersonic Missiles

The Double Standards of the US and Japan Lead to North Korea's Missile Development... Hypersonic Success Remains Uncertain
Japan's Militarization Poses a Greater Threat to Regional Security Than North Korean Missiles

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The Chinese state-run media Global Times claimed that the double standards of the United States and Japan regarding North Korea's hypersonic missile launch test have led to North Korea's weapons development. The media pointed out that Japan's military expansion poses a greater threat to regional countries than North Korea's weapons development.

Global Times, citing Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported on the 13th that the hypersonic glide vehicle hit a target 1000 km away from the launch point. The media directly quoted KCNA's report confirming the excellent maneuverability of the hypersonic glide vehicle through the final test. KCNA claimed that the hypersonic glide vehicle performed a glide re-acceleration at 600 km after launch, executed a 240 km turning maneuver, and landed in the target waters 1000 km away.

Global Times analyzed that although the information disclosed by North Korea is limited and insufficient to determine whether the glide vehicle is truly a hypersonic weapon, it shows characteristics of a hypersonic glide vehicle such as turning maneuvers.

Global Times, citing experts, added that North Korea is conducting more demanding technical tests. It also noted that North Korea needs to provide more convincing information about the glide vehicle to confirm the success of the hypersonic glide vehicle launch.

Regarding North Korea's hypersonic weapons development, Global Times claimed that North Korea is developing weapons to counter the missile defense systems established by the United States, Japan, and South Korea. It argued that North Korea's weapons development is due to the actions of the U.S., Japan, and South Korea.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, said, "From North Korea's perspective, which lacks advanced aircraft and other weapons, ballistic missiles or hypersonic missiles effectively enhance their defense capabilities," adding, "Hypersonic missiles will make the U.S., Japan, and South Korea reconsider before taking hasty actions."

Lv Chao, a researcher at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, analyzed that "Kim Jong-un's attendance at the hypersonic projectile test was sufficient to attract public attention," and that this was intended with the deadlocked relationship with the United States in mind.

Global Times also pointed out the timing of the hypersonic projectile test. It reported that North Korea's test launch occurred after the U.S. and Japan's foreign and defense ministers' (2+2) meeting.

Researcher Lv said, "Japan is using North Korea's weapons development as an opportunity to increase its own military power," adding, "Japan's military expansion is more dangerous than North Korea's weapons." He explained that Japan would further exaggerate the North Korean threat to revise its pacifist constitution.

He also said, "The Biden administration, which is confronting Russia over the Ukraine issue, may not have the capacity to handle the Korean Peninsula issue," and added, "Future South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises will be an important opportunity to observe whether there will be changes in the U.S. policy toward North Korea."

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