Park Won-gon "Anxiety Detected in North Korean Missiles... Possibility of Nuclear Test"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea continued its 'consecutive provocations' by launching ballistic missiles on the morning of the 20th, following the 18th. Professor Park Won-gon of Ewha Womans University’s Department of North Korean Studies evaluated, "Overall, North Korea’s anxiety is evident."

On the 20th, on YTN's 'News King Park Ji-hoon,' Professor Park said, "Last year, they endlessly provoked but claimed it was within the scope of self-defense and part of development plans. However, this year, they are clearly stating it is a 'response to South Korea and the U.S.'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The full-scale response by South Korea and the U.S. to North Korea began in the second half of last year, and now North Korea’s countermeasures against South Korea, the U.S., and Japan indicate that the internal situation in North Korea is very difficult. North Korea’s food situation has worsened since the end of last year, with rumors recently spreading that 'starvation deaths are occurring frequently.'

He said, "North Korea has effectively sealed its borders for three years and continues to do so. Logically, the economy cannot avoid hardship after three years of border closure," adding, "Some foreign media have even reported that starvation deaths have occurred in places like Kaesong."

Accordingly, North Korea has resorted to missile launches to break through this situation. Professor Park said, "From North Korea’s perspective, there is a situation where they must break through something," and "North Korea typically creates external tension to overcome internal difficulties."

Another reason North Korea appears anxious is the Biden administration’s consistent non-response to North Korea’s provocations. Professor Park said, "(The U.S.) not responding is partly intentional. It is deliberate ignoring. Since the Biden administration includes people from the Obama administration who have experience dealing with North Korea, they strongly believe in not getting caught up in North Korea’s pace," adding, "Secondly, and this is quite concerning, North Korea’s nuclear issue is not a priority in the Biden administration’s overall foreign policy."

North Korea seems to have no intention of engaging with South Korea and is focusing solely on dialogue with the U.S. Professor Park said, "North Korea has a very clear goal: to be recognized as a definite nuclear power," and "From North Korea’s perspective, the core goal is to be acknowledged as a de facto nuclear power and negotiate with the U.S. to lift sanctions."

This explains the increasing likelihood of a 7th nuclear test. Professor Park said, "A nuclear test serves military needs, but as I mentioned earlier, due to economic difficulties, North Korea may decide to change the situation by conducting a 7th nuclear test to reaffirm its status as a nuclear power to the world and then come out to negotiate with the U.S.," adding, "This is the so-called ‘brinkmanship’ North Korea has used before, most recently on November 29, 2017, when North Korea launched the Hwasong-15 and declared the completion of its nuclear force."

Regarding speculation that Kim Ju-ae, daughter of Kim Jong-un, who has recently appeared frequently in North Korean media, has been designated as the successor, Professor Park said, "It is still too early to see her as a successor," and "Kim Jong-un is currently 40 years old and can rule for another 20 to 30 years. Appointing a 10-year-old daughter as a successor could concentrate power toward that successor prematurely."

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