Recently North Korea fired four short-range missiles into the sea.
Why does North Korea’s conduct missile tests?
The country has a long history of performing major weapons tests when new governments take power in the United States (U.S.) and South Korea.
In 2009, North Korea conducted a long-range rocket launch and a nuclear test within the first four months of the Obama administration.
In February 2017, less than a month after Donald Trump assumed the US presidency, it tested a mid-range missile.
Later in 2017, four days after South Korean President assumed power, it fired a newly developed nuclear-capable intermediate-range missile.
What is North Korea’s intention now?
These tests largely appear to follow the same path but it is believed that North Korea held back from a more serious provocation.
This is because the current U.S. administration is evaluating its North Korean policy.
It wants the U.S. to lift sanctions while letting it maintain its nuclear capability.
But U.S. is unlikely do that and North Korea may stage bigger provocations like a long-range missile test or a nuclear detonation.
For now, it is ramping up its rhetoric along with the short-range missile launches.
Earlier, North Korean leader announced that the country’s nuclear arsenal will be enlarged to cope with the hostile US policy and military threats.
He also pressed South Korea to suspend regular military drills with the U.S. if it wants to better the ties with North Korea.
What was U.S. response?
Earlier U.S. has reached out to North Korea but the country did not respond to it.
U.S. slammed the North Korea’s human rights record and its nuclear ambitions.
Now North Korea’s First vice Foreign Minister said that the country will ignore such US offers because of its hostility to America.
What will happen now?
It is unlikely for U.S. to make concessions in the face of North Korea’s short-range missile launches.
U.S. clearly advocated that unless North Korea pledges that it will denuclearize one-on-one talks with President is not possible.
Amid the standoff, North Korea could end up launching bigger weapons tests, if it isn’t satisfied with the U.S. North Korea policy review.
Any such major provocation would certainly prompt the U.S. and its allies to seek additional UN sanctions against North Korea.
But tougher sanctions may be difficult because China has veto power on the UN Security Council.
This is because North Korea is China major diplomatic ally and economic lifeline and it may not easily agree to more sanctions even if North Korea engages in long-range missile or nuclear tests.
