Latest North Korean Missile is the Most Accurate Yet

On Monday, the latest reports out of Pyongyang, North Korea have continued the dialogue on the most recent series of nuclear missile testing carried out by the North Koreans.

According to KCNA, they released a missile that landed around 23 feet from their intended target. Although they did not release a distance that the missile traveled, according to reports from Japan and South Korea, the best estimate is that it flew 248 miles. The reports also continued to say that this most recent missile was launched and guided “with control wings.” Control wings are the sign of a “maneuverable re-entry vehicle,” which allows for the pilot to alter the path of the missile midflight to increase its accuracy. On top of this, the missile was launched from a new self-propelled vehicle which allows for quicker firing.

Even with all the confidence that is stemming from the North Korean capital, many experts around the world are very skeptical to the degree of success that this most recent test achieved. One reason this skepticism exists is that there really is no concrete way to determine this result without another test to compare it too.

Experts like Bruce Bennett, the senior international defense researcher for Rand Corp, an organization based in California, has pointed out other factors including that this same missile was tested four times just last month, and each time it was unsuccessful. How could this missile go from not even able to launch to their most accurate missile yet in just a month? In addition to this point, this test was their third test in as many weeks, so it is possible that they are saying it is successful to try and trick others into believing that they are on the up and up.

Their test numbers for this year are up from last year. As of now, they have fired 12 missiles in 9 tests, whereas last year at this same point they had only fired 10 missiles.

The biggest problem that this latest test presents to the United States is that they are getting closer to reaching the mainland. Regardless of what the actual outcome of this most recent test, with every test launch, they are improving their technology, and these improvements will eventually be able to launch a missile that will breach the 5,626 miles that separate California from North Korea.

Some still say that this success does not mean as much as many believe. Although they are improving technology with each launch, Bennett reminds every one of the Musudan missiles that North Korea launched last year, “With the Musudan tests, there were five failures, then a success, then two more failures,” meaning that one success does not mean that all, or any, future tests are guaranteed to be successful.

In fact, all future testing may be in doubt for North Korea after this most recent launch. After reports released from Japan and South Korea, both intend to act. Japan promising “concrete response,” and South Korea stating that North Korea will face, “strong punishment from our military.”

In addition to the input from two regional powers, Trump also threw in his two cents saying in a tweet that the latest test disrespected their ally China, who has been very patient with them.

China, who has been acting as the peacekeeper in this most recent string of nuclear tests, has admonished bth North Korea and the United States. They have, on multiple occasions, asked North Korea to stop their nuke tests, while also asking the United States to stop their military exercises near tbothKorean Peninsula, which they say threaten North Korea’s sovereignty.

The US seems reluctant to stop these exercises though because they have said that it provides reassurance to allies.

Bennett also made one other point that may be a sign of better times to come. The frequency of tests being carried out may show discontent with the Kim Jong Un regime.  “His insistence on repeated tests, despite even China being unhappy with the tests, suggests that he has something to prove internally.”