Threats by North Korea

What is the issue?

Amidst various economic sanctions, North Korea still continues to test missiles and poses treat to neighbourhood.

What are the concerns with North Korean missile test?

• Recently N.Korea launched its 22^nd missile of this year, the number is highest since 1984.
• Like it did in 2009 with previous US presidential regime, it also testing the resonance of current U.S regime and alliance of japan and South Korea.
• U.S is preparing its defence commitment including nuclear weapons, since Pyongyang possesses the means to hit mainland U.S.

What is the capability of the recent missile launch?

• It was an intermediate-range ballistic missile called the Hwasong-12, which flew over the Japanese island of Hokkaido and splashed into the Pacific.
• This was the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s first overflight of Japan using a ballistic missile.
• According to the U.S. government, the missile has a range of 7,000-9,500 km.
• It can reach continental U.S. Depending on the trajectory and payload, it can destroy Chicago and maybe even New York.

What N.Korea is trying to signify with its missile launches?

• The series of acts by North Korea as created a dubious geopolitical security.
• According to recent U.S. intelligence assessment, Pyongyang has developed miniaturised nuclear warheads that can fit into its missiles.
• This coupled with the worrying shift in missile testing patterns of the nation ,launches are now being conducted all over the country
• There are not just at the conventional tests, it indicates that the nation is possibly preparing all its missile units for nuclear war.

Source: The Hindu