North Korea Conducts Missile Test Ahead of Crucial South Korean Election

North Korea tested what is believed to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Tuesday, according to South Korean officials. This is the latest military action following Kim Jong Un's announcement at the start of the year that he was moving away from a policy of seeking peace with South Korea.

There has been no immediate response from Pyongyang regarding this suspected test. It comes just over a week before important legislative elections in South Korea, which will gauge support for President Yoon Suk Yeol. He has maintained a tough stance against North Korea during his presidency, which has lasted for two years.

North Korea has been dealing with international sanctions due to its nuclear weapons program for years. Recently, the country has increased its weapons tests and military exercises.

According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), on March 19, Pyongyang announced that it had conducted a test of a multistage, solid-fueled rocket engine for a "new-type intermediate-range hypersonic missile."

Kim emphasized the significance of the IRBM system for North Korea's security following the test. She stated that it was as crucial as their intercontinental ballistic missiles, which have the potential to reach the United States mainland.

The KCNA report did not provide additional information about the new hypersonic weapon. However, North Korea had previously announced that they had conducted a test on a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV).

While ballistic missiles reach hypersonic velocity in their terminal phase, an HGV has the ability to maneuver at high speeds near a target. This allows the HGV to evade detection and missile defenses.

Video Ad Feedback

North Korea's leader watches U.S. presidential race

03:04

• Source:

North Korea's military has been conducting a number of military exercises in recent months. At the same time, the US and South Korea have also been holding drills, such as the annual Freedom Shield exercise. South Korea stated that this exercise was aimed at deterring the nuclear threat posed by North Korea.

Pyongyang displayed its military strength with long-range artillery and multiple rocket launchers, creating concerns for the safety of Seoul and other important areas near the border.

Leading up to the April 10 vote, polls indicate that President Yoon's People Power Party (PPP) is significantly behind the opposition Democratic Party. Analysts suggest that a defeat for the PPP may undermine Yoon's leadership.

Yoon, who has advocated for stronger military collaboration with the US, also supports strengthening relations with Japan, Korea’s former colonial ruler. This stance has upset many in a country where the painful memories of that occupation still linger.

However, Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, mentioned that North Korea's suspected missile test on Tuesday is unlikely to significantly impact the upcoming vote.

Video Ad Feedback

How much damage can North Korea's weapons do?

01:07

• Source:

CNN

Easley mentioned that launching an intermediate-range missile may not have the same impact as a full-range ICBM launch or a nuclear test, and is unlikely to affect National Assembly seats. South Koreans are currently more concerned about issues such as healthcare reform and economic difficulties.

Tuesday saw a suspected missile test from North Korea, happening shortly before Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's upcoming trip to Washington for a summit with US President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The meeting is expected to address the challenges posed by China's assertiveness, with North Korea also likely to be a topic of discussion among the three leaders.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui recently dismissed rumors about a possible meeting between Kishida and North Korea’s Kim. According to KCNA, he stated that North Korea is not open to any attempts by Japan to reach out to Pyongyang.

CNN’s Yoonjung Seo contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The recent missile test