North Korea’s new tactical weapon

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected a “newly developed high-tech tactical” weapon, state media said on Friday, without specifying what kind of weapon was tested. The relationship between the US and North Korea has always been fractious. During the war between North and South Korea in 1950, US…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected a “newly developed high-tech tactical” weapon, state media said on Friday, without specifying what kind of weapon was tested.

Background

The relationship between the US and North Korea has always been fractious. During the war between North and South Korea in 1950, US forces successfully intervened on behalf of South Korea. To this day, there are 28,500 American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in South Korea as part of United States Forces Korea (USFK).

North Korea has remained an isolated nation for decades. Its nuclear program has especially been a concern for the international community. In 2017, North Korea has launched 23 missiles in a span of 16 tests. It has increased its military activity since July of 2017 when it test-launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). In August 2017, North Korea flew two missiles over Japan. The nation called it the “first step” in its Pacific operations. In September 2017, the nation has conducted its sixth nuclear test to date.

The North Korean nuclear program has been a source of concern for the US and the international community for decades. Since January 2018, Pyongyang appeared to have softened its stance, initiating diplomatic meetings. On April 27th, North and South Korean leaders Kim Jong-Un and Moon Jae-In held a historic summit, the first in over a decade. The two nations announced that they had agreed to end the 60-year Korean War and signed the Panmunjom Declaration which agreed to denuclearise North Korea. A meeting was also arranged between the North Korean leader and the US President, the first of its kind.

Analysis

North Korea has suspended nuclear and missile tests as it endeavours to improve relations with the outside world, and there was no indication that this weapon was nuclear-related or a missile.

The U.S. State Department said it remained confident that promises made by Kim at his summit meeting with President Trump in Singapore in June would be fulfilled.

Nevertheless, the announcement marked the first time Kim had made a high-profile visit to a military site since that summit. It is also the first announcement of any weapons test this year.

It comes as Washington’s diplomatic efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear program appear to have stalled. North Korea has suspended nuclear and missile tests as it endeavours to improve relations with the outside world, and there was no indication that this weapon was nuclear-related or a missile.

The U.S. State Department said it remained confident that promises made by Kim at his summit meeting with President Trump in Singapore in June would be fulfilled.

Nevertheless, the announcement marked the first time Kim had made a high-profile visit to a military site since that summit, and the first announcement of any weapons test this year.

It comes as Washington’s diplomatic efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear program appear to have stalled.

Earlier this month, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry warned that the country could return to the path of “pyongjin,” if sanctions are not lifted. “Pyongjin” is the simultaneous development of nuclear weapons and economic development.

State media has also expressed anger in recent days at the resumption of small-scale joint military exercises by the United States and South Korea.

Kim said that the weapons system tested was one that his father, Kim Jong Il, was especially interested during his lifetime and led the development of personally. The State Department downplayed the news.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry said it was the first publicly known field inspection of a weapons test by Kim since he observed the testing of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile in November of last year.

The timing of the new weapons test is interesting as North Korean negotiator Kim Yong Chol had cancelled a planned meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the last minute.

Counterpoint

Most of North Korea’s arsenal and recent developments remain untested in combat conditions and therefore, are unreliable. Additionally, the state-run media channel did not disclose any information on the nature of the weapon itself. It is therefore unknown if this weapon is operational or if it poses a credible threat to any country in the region.

Assessment

Our assessment is that North Korea’s new “tactical weapon” could be a distraction to force the US into a hasty negotiation. We believe that Pyongyang is trying to get Washington on the negotiating table without giving up its only bargaining chip: denuclearisation.