Test of latest North Korean weapon adds to threat facing Japan
The Japan TimesJan 15
NKorea Claims Solid-fuel Hypersonic Missile Test
The Facts
South Korea's military said Sunday it detected the first missile test of the year by the North. Pyongyang commented on Monday that it had successfully test-fired a new ballistic missile with a hypersonic, maneuverable warhead. According to the North, this was the first test of a solid-fuel hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).
According to military authorities from South Korea and Japan, the IRBM was fired from a location near Pyongyang and traveled eastward before it crashed in the waters between North Korea and Japan.
The Spin
Narrative A
Because of Pyongyang's increased military cooperation with Moscow, the recent launch sends a powerful message far beyond the Korean Peninsula and the region. This Russian-North Korean partnership can be seen on the ground in Ukraine, where Russia has employed North Korean weapons while also giving advanced rocket technology to the North. This creates a hazardous precedent — potentially jeopardizing world peace and security.
Narrative B
North Korea continues to test and develop its defenses against Washington's and Seoul's military provocations. South Korea and the US risk nuclear war by holding multiple military exercises along the North Korean border and in the border region. By bringing in new military assets, such as aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, and strategic heavy bombers, this is threatening not only North Korea but also regional peace and stability. Pyongyang has every right to counter these provocations by expanding its defensive military capabilities.
Nerd narrative
There is a 15% chance there will be a full-scale war between North Korea and South Korea by 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.