North Korea Test-Fires Suspected Ballistic Missile As South Korea’s Moon Seeks Dialogue

Topline

North Korea on Wednesday fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea in its first such test launch in about two months, in a move that is likely to further disrupt the resumption of its stalled denuclearization talks with Seoul and Washington.

Key Facts

According to both the South Korean and Japanese militaries, North Korea fired the suspected missile into its eastern waters on Wednesday morning.

The launch is North Korea’s first missile test since October and it comes after its leader Kim Jong Un vowed to further bolster the country’s military at a national leadership conference last week.

Hours after the launch South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed concerns about the launch but reiterated his calls for dialogue with Pyongyang “to fundamentally overcome this situation.”

Moon delivered his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony of a new railway line near the border with the North—intended to eventually connect the two countries—which he called “a stepping stone for peace and regional balance” on the Korean Peninsula.”

Japanese officials were more critical of the launch, with the country’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida telling reporters that it was “truly regrettable” that North Korea has resumed its missile testing from the previous year.

Tangent

While the type of missile launched has not been confirmed yet, ballistic missile launches by North Korea are banned under a series of resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). However, Pyongyang has shown very little regard for the ban by test-firing several ballistic missiles just last year. Breach of the UNSC resolution could lead to further sanctions against the country which in turn could further damage chances of dialogue.

Key Background

In his New Year’s address on Tuesday, the South Korean president said he will continue to seek the restoration of dialogue with North Korea and push for peace in the region until the end of his term in May. Last month, Moon said the two countries have agreed “in principle” to officially declare an end to the Korean war, nearly seventy years since the end of hostilities. Pyongyang, however, has been less receptive to Moon’s overtures and has continued to raise objections about what it calls “U.S. hostility” against it.

Further Reading

North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile into sea (Associated Press)

North Korea fires suspected missile as S.Korea breaks ground for ‘peace’ railway (Reuters)