Initial South Korean and Japanese intelligence indicates North Korea tested what is presumed to be the longer-range, more capable, and more accurate Hwasong-17 missile, potentially with reentry technology. The liquid-fueled missile, paraded in 2020 during Workers' Party of Korea 75th anniversary celebrations, reportedly reached an altitude of 3,728 miles, traveling 671 miles in 71 minutes.
The reentry technology, if in its possession, means North Korea could mount more than one nuclear warhead on the missile to evade defense systems and hit multiple targets, according to Gomez.
The launch breaks the nuclear and ICBM testing moratorium North Korea self-imposed in 2018, the same year Kim met former President Donald Trump in Singapore for the first U.S.-North Korea leader summit.
Considering existing U.S. sanctions, Karako suggested the slight possibility that the latest test may result in secondary measures against Chinese banks and military entities. Gomez questioned the practicality of secondary action against, for example, China amid the Ukraine war and after China did not veto 2017 U.N. North Korea resolutions.
Domestically, the test underscores the first anniversary of President Joe Biden approving Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman competing to create a next-generation interceptor by 2028, according to Karako.
"I would also just say that the Biden administration is about to release its new missile defense review in the coming days or weeks," he said. "I think this ratifies the bipartisan path that we're on in terms of homeland missile defense."
The launch comes after North Korea claimed it tested spy satellite gear last month, but many analysts suspect it was its reentry technology. The trial drew White House ire, new sanctions, and increased surveillance given the threat the technology poses to the Indo-Pacific.
"Our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remains ironclad," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at the time. "As we have said and North Korean officials, including Kim Jong Un, have publicly noted, we continue to seek diplomacy and are prepared to meet without preconditions. But North Korea continues to not respond."
North Korea is demanding sanctions relief as a diplomatic carrot, according to Gomez, and the rogue nation has proven its capacity and resolve to withstand pressure after Trump allegedly pushed Kim too hard for more denuclearization concessions during their 2019 talks in Hanoi, Vietnam, he said.
"The Biden administration, understandably, isn't willing to do that because they don't want to give up something for nothing," Gomez added.
Biden was expected to discuss North Korea with Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping last week, but Ukraine dominated their phone call,
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/...l&utm_source=internal&utm_medium=article_rail
The reentry technology, if in its possession, means North Korea could mount more than one nuclear warhead on the missile to evade defense systems and hit multiple targets, according to Gomez.
The launch breaks the nuclear and ICBM testing moratorium North Korea self-imposed in 2018, the same year Kim met former President Donald Trump in Singapore for the first U.S.-North Korea leader summit.
Considering existing U.S. sanctions, Karako suggested the slight possibility that the latest test may result in secondary measures against Chinese banks and military entities. Gomez questioned the practicality of secondary action against, for example, China amid the Ukraine war and after China did not veto 2017 U.N. North Korea resolutions.
Domestically, the test underscores the first anniversary of President Joe Biden approving Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman competing to create a next-generation interceptor by 2028, according to Karako.
"I would also just say that the Biden administration is about to release its new missile defense review in the coming days or weeks," he said. "I think this ratifies the bipartisan path that we're on in terms of homeland missile defense."
The launch comes after North Korea claimed it tested spy satellite gear last month, but many analysts suspect it was its reentry technology. The trial drew White House ire, new sanctions, and increased surveillance given the threat the technology poses to the Indo-Pacific.
"Our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remains ironclad," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at the time. "As we have said and North Korean officials, including Kim Jong Un, have publicly noted, we continue to seek diplomacy and are prepared to meet without preconditions. But North Korea continues to not respond."
North Korea is demanding sanctions relief as a diplomatic carrot, according to Gomez, and the rogue nation has proven its capacity and resolve to withstand pressure after Trump allegedly pushed Kim too hard for more denuclearization concessions during their 2019 talks in Hanoi, Vietnam, he said.
"The Biden administration, understandably, isn't willing to do that because they don't want to give up something for nothing," Gomez added.
Biden was expected to discuss North Korea with Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping last week, but Ukraine dominated their phone call,
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/...l&utm_source=internal&utm_medium=article_rail
