After the meeting between South Korea and the United States (US), North Korea has discharged its most formidable long-range projectile. As per South Korean officials, North Korea has initiated its most sophisticated long-range projectile notwithstanding the limitations imposed by the United Nations (UN). The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) experiment evoked prompt censure from the Western nations, and the projectile descended in the western vicinity of the Hokkaido province of Japan.[1]
North Korea launched a long-range missile for the fifth time in 2023. However, this shot, which took place on December 18, 2023, was recorded as the longest range shot made this year.[2] As a reminder, South Korean and US defense officials had updated their plans against a nuclear attack from the North a week before this incident.
On the morning of December 18, 2023, Monday, local time, North Korea launched its long-range missile at approximately 08:24 (KST) from the Pyongyang region. According to South Korean and Japanese authorities, the missile traveled approximately 1,000 km (621 miles) over a duration of 73 minutes. Additionally, officials assert that a missile of this nature has the capability to reach the North American continent.[3]
The tension between North and South Korea escalated in October of this year when Pyongyang successfully placed a spy satellite into orbit, in violation of UN sanctions. In response to this incident, Seoul partially suspended the military agreement and restricted military activities along the border with the North. While North Korea expanded its nuclear weapons program, South Korea and the United States strengthened their defenses in the region. Meanwhile, North Korea pursued deepening its relations with Russia.
Japan’s Deputy Defense Minister Shingo Miyake has stated, ‘Based on the flight trajectory of the launched ICBM-class missile, it is estimated that its range could exceed 15,000 km, depending on its weight and other factors.[4] In such a scenario, the entire United States would fall within the range of the missile. Miyake stated that Japan is in close collaboration with South Korea and the United States to analyze the launch.
The powerful long-range missile launch conducted by North Korea following the South Korea-US talks has escalated tension in the region and impacted geopolitical balances. According to South Korean officials, North Korea made a provocative move by firing its most advanced long-range missile, despite UN restrictions. The fifth long-range missile launch by North Korea in 2023 has a longer range compared to previous launches. This situation highlights North Korea’s continued technological advancement and its intention to alter regional power dynamics.
The advancements in North Korea’s missile program have the potential to alter regional and global power dynamics. Deputy Defense Minister Shingo Miyake’s range estimates indicate that North Korea poses an increasing threat, significantly impacting regional security. These developments underscore the seriousness of the situation and its implications for regional stability.
Consequently, North Korea’s foreign policy is characterized as ‘unconventional’ from a Western perspective. It is also described as ‘provocative, rhetoric-filled, and propagandistic.[5] In this context, North Korea’s foreign policy can be seen as a diplomatic tactic aimed at influencing U.S. perceptions in the Asia-Pacific region. The ICBM tests and the breakdown of existing agreements by North Korea can be interpreted as deliberate messages directed at the United States.
[1] “North Korea Fires Most Powerful Long-Range Missile After South Korea-US Meeting”, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-67745684, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.12.2023).
[2] “North Korea Launches Long-Range Ballistic Missile For Fifth Time In 2023”, Japan Times, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/18/asia-pacific/politics/north-korea-missile-december-17/, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.12.2023).
[3] Aynı yer.
[4] “North Korea Test Fires Ballistic Missile With Potential To Reach Entire US, Japan Says”, CNN, https://edition.cnn.com/2023/12/18/asia/north-korea-launches-ballistic-missile-intl-hnk-ml/index.html, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.12.2023).
[5] Kim, Yongho-Yurim Yi. “Security Dilemmas And Signaling During The North Korean Nuclear Standoff”, Asian Perspective 29, no. 3 (2005): 73–97. http://www.jstor.org/stable/42704515.
