While the two previous launches were “hypersonic missiles” according to North Korean state media, they would be two short-range ballistic missiles. The multiplication of these tests, unusual at this time of year, comes only a few hours after Pyongyang denounced the American decision to impose new sanctions on the country.
From our correspondent in Seoul, Nicholas Rocca
The promise ” a stronger reaction from North Korea to the American sanctions introduced this Wednesday, January 12 was not long in coming. This third North Korean test in ten days took place a few hours after the statements of the spokesman of Foreign Affairs qualifying “ confrontational attitude » the American decision to establish sanctions against five people linked to the North Korean ballistic program.
No matter the penalties…
After the test of a missile described as hypersonic by the state media in the presence of Kim Jong-un this Tuesday, January 11, this new test sends a clear message: the country will not give up its ballistic program, whatever the penalties. The repeated invitations to dialogue without conditions from the United States or a joint declaration of the end of the Korean war from the South appear insufficient for the North Korean leader, who seems to hope for a counterpart to possible discussions.
On the side of Seoul, the tests of the neighbor are likely to be invited in the debates of the presidential election which will take place next March. The successor of President Moon Jae-in, a great supporter of dialogue, will have a lot to do if he wants Pyongyang and Washington to sit down at a negotiating table at which neither party seems really ready to sit down.
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