North Korea Tests Another Missile and Flies Warplanes Near Border with South

Image copyright: Jesse Johnson/The Japan Times

The Facts

  • On Thurs., North Korean state media said that the People's Army had successfully test-fired two long-range strategic cruise missiles on Wed., supposedly confirming the reliability and operation of nuclear-capable weapons with a longer range.

  • The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) claimed that the cruise missiles flew oval and figure-8 pattern for roughly three hours over the Yellow Sea before hitting their intended targets 1,240 miles (2,000 km) away.


The Spin

Republican narrative

You can’t blame Kim Jong-un for flexing North Korea’s military muscle when Biden is recklessly saber-rattling with Taiwan and China. How does Kim know the US won't also team up with South Korea for an invasion of the North? Trump's relationship with and policies towards North Korea maintained stability in the Korean Peninsula.

Democratic narrative

Kim Jong-Un's geopolitical actions have been erratic, and his missile launches are destabilizing the Peninsula. Instead of provoking a confrontation, the leader should take the Biden administration up on its offer to meet without preconditions, and settle any of his grievances peacefully. Biden is showing strength and prudence in the region.

Nerd narrative

There is a 33% chance that, if there's an offensive detonation anywhere by 2050, there will be at least one resulting fatality in North Korea, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


Political split

LEFT

RIGHT

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