North Korea's perfectly logical strategy of missile launches and dialogue



Columns North Korea’s perfectly logical strategy of missile launches and dialogue The DPRK wants sanctions relief from the US and a Democratic South Korean president and is working to see both outcomes Andrei Lankov October 14, 2021 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON KCNA \| North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech at a party plenum event in Jan. 2020 A cursory look at the words and deeds of the North Korean government in recent months leaves one somewhat perplexed: Their actions appear to be contradictory. On the one hand, Kim Jong Un and those around him have been acting tough, flexing their missiles and showing off their technological achievements. In quick succession, they tested a cruise missile, a train-launched ballistic missile and a hypersonic missile, then put all of these in the same room along with the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and other weapons for the “Self-Defense-2021” expo in Pyongyang. A cursory look at the words and deeds of the North Korean government in recent months leaves one somewhat perplexed: Their actions appear to be contradictory. On the one hand, Kim Jong Un and those around him have been acting tough, flexing their missiles and showing off their technological achievements. In quick succession, they tested a cruise missile, a train-launched ballistic missile and a hypersonic missile, then put all of these in the same room along with the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and other weapons for the “Self-Defense-2021” expo in Pyongyang. Become a member for less than $5.75 per week. Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

Columns

North Korea’s perfectly logical strategy of missile launches and dialogue

The DPRK wants sanctions relief from the US and a Democratic South Korean president and is working to see both outcomes

Andrei Lankov October 14, 2021

North Korea’s perfectly logical strategy of missile launches and dialogue

KCNA | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech at a party plenum event in Jan. 2020

A cursory look at the words and deeds of the North Korean government in recent months leaves one somewhat perplexed: Their actions appear to be contradictory.

On the one hand, Kim Jong Un and those around him have been acting tough, flexing their missiles and showing off their technological achievements. In quick succession, they tested a cruise missile, a train-launched ballistic missile and a hypersonic missile, then put all of these in the same room along with the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and other weapons for the “Self-Defense-2021” expo in Pyongyang.