Ahead of the Launch of South Korea-US 'NCG'... North Korea Reveals Complex Intentions

North Korea Speaks Directly at UN Security Council for First Time in 5 Years
"ICBM as Self-Defense... No Impact on Neighboring Security"
North Korea, Lacking Achievements, Provokes to Gain Momentum

North Korea, following the launch of its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Hwasong-18,' claimed in its first United Nations Security Council (UNSC) statement in five years that the "South Korea-US Washington Declaration is a platform for nuclear showdown." Analysts suggest that this series of protests reflects the complex intentions behind the South Korea-US cooperation, including the deployment of US strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula, amid a situation where there are no achievements to boast of due to the failure of the reconnaissance satellite launch.

According to diplomatic sources on the 16th, Kim Song, North Korea's ambassador to the UN, stated at the UNSC open meeting on the 13th, which was held to discuss North Korea's ICBM launch, that "Our new ICBM test flight does not negatively affect the security of neighboring countries," and argued that "It is a legitimate exercise of our right to self-defense to protect our peace and security in the region and to deter hostile forces and dangerous military movements."

Kim Sung, North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations

In particular, Ambassador Kim referred to the 'Washington Declaration' adopted at the summit between President Yoon Suk-yeol and US President Joe Biden in April, describing it as "the platform for nuclear showdown with the DPRK." He further condemned the establishment of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), a core element of the Washington Declaration, as "a plan for the use of nuclear weapons against North Korea."

This was North Korea's first direct attendance and speech at a Security Council meeting in 5 years and 7 months since December 2017. Despite North Korea's somewhat forced remarks that day, the Security Council once again ended the meeting 'empty-handed.' While the US and Japan strongly condemned North Korea's ICBM launch in the strongest terms, China and Russia defended North Korea, arguing that the South Korea-US-Japan extended deterrence measures have an unstable impact on regional security.

North Korea Bold After ICBM Launch... "Reflects Complex Intentions"

Kim Jong-un Watching the Test Launch of ICBM 'Hwasong-18'

Analysts suggest that North Korea's bold opposition even at the Security Council, which condemns the 'ICBM launch' as an illegal act, reflects its complex intentions. It is believed that there is a calculation to gain political momentum amid worsening food shortages and a lack of achievements to boast of.

North Korea likely envisioned a scenario of successfully launching a reconnaissance satellite in May, holding a plenary meeting of the Party in June, and grandly conducting the Victory Day military parade on the 27th of this month. However, the failure of the reconnaissance satellite launch complicated the calculations, and with no signs of resolving the food shortage, public sentiment began to waver. A source familiar with North Korea's internal affairs said, "The fact that the satellite launch failed due to technical shortcomings has tarnished the infallibility of the leader," adding, "Those who know are also aware that the South recovered the debris."

Moon Sung-mook, director of the Unification Strategy Center at the Korea Institute for National Strategy, said, "North Korea's obstinacy also serves to create a justification for China and Russia to defend it," adding, "From the Ministry of Defense spokesperson and Kim Yo-jong's statements challenging US strategic reconnaissance aircraft, it was a kind of trailer." He especially noted, "Kim Jong-un must be quite troubled as well," and pointed out, "Even though residents know about the authorities' failures, including the reconnaissance satellite failure, they find it difficult to speak out due to surveillance, but Kim himself must wonder how long such (repressive) conditions can continue."

Meanwhile, the 'Hwasong-18' that North Korea launched on the 12th, following April of this year, is a new solid-fuel-based ICBM. Since it is difficult to be confident of completion with only two test launches, additional launches for operational deployment are expected. The nearest provocation schedule is rumored to be either the first NCG meeting to be held in Seoul on the 18th or the 70th anniversary of Victory Day (the Armistice Agreement signing day) on the 27th. There is also a possibility that North Korea will target the timing of the deployment of US strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula, including the upcoming South Korea-US joint exercise 'Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS)' scheduled for next month.

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