April 26, 2024
Columns

Why North Korea won’t act on its threat to launch long-range missiles — yet

Pyongyang hopes to pressure the US to make concessions, but without angering its ally China

In the first weeks of 2022, the North Koreans have rung in the new year with an impressive fireworks display.

First, the DPRK flight-tested brand new ballistic missiles with hypersonic glider warheads, and then in quick succession launched a multitude of other ballistic missiles. To drive home their message even further, the North Korean Politburo stated on Jan. 19 that its patience is running thin and hinted that it might reconsider the country’s moratorium on nuclear tests and long-range missile launches, in place since late 2017.

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