Why is the DPRK intensively testing missiles at this time?
On the 22nd, North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un directed a super-large rocket artillery unit to conduct a simulated nuclear counterattack exercise. This time, although it may have been nominally used as a 600 mm caliber super-large rocket launcher, it can be classified as a ballistic missile because it has missile capabilities. And this time the test launch of a ballistic missile has a range of 400 kilometers. This means that North Korea tested a short-range ballistic missile this time. In other words, it is also "tailor-made" for South Korea, and its strike range includes the headquarters base of the three US services in South Korea, as well as the base of the 8th Combat Flying Regiment of the US Army stationed in South Korea in North Jeolla Province. And this test launch was a simulated nuclear counterattack against South Korea. In addition, Kim Jong-un's nuclear counterattack training is also one of the actions of the North Korean side to intensively test ballistic missiles in recent times, and three days ago, the DPRK also conducted a test of the power of a super-large warhead of a strategic cruise missile and a test launch of a new anti-aircraft missile. Earlier, earlier this month, North Korea conducted a test launch of a medium- and long-range hypersonic ballistic missile.
So why did the DPRK choose to intensively conduct missile test launches at this time? A simple analysis shows that there are at least three reasons for this: First, there have been new changes in the current international situation that are favorable to the DPRK's missile test launches, because almost all of the recent international public opinion has focused on Russia, Ukraine, and Ukraine. In the two conflicts between Palestine and Israel, especially after the exchange of fire between Iran and Israel, tensions in the Middle East have further escalated, and Western countries led by the United States have no more energy to pay attention to the situation on the peninsula. Second, the fact that the DPRK has conducted such frequent missile test launches in such a short period of time reflects the fact that the DPRK's missile technology has been upgraded or that it has made new breakthroughs, and that the DPRK needs to conduct intensive test launches to verify its missile strike capability; and third, in order to send some kind of tough signal to the United States and South Korea.
It is undeniable that for some time now, the United States and the ROK have shown no intention of reining in their provocative moves on the Korean Peninsula issue, and from 12 to 26 April, the ROK and US Air Force's "Joint Formation Army Comprehensive Exercise" was held at the Gunsan Air Base, with the participation of more than 100 military aircraft. South Korean media claimed that the exercise was aimed at enhancing the joint operations and wartime mission execution capabilities of military aircraft such as air-to-air, air-to-ground, reconnaissance and transportation, and was an annual routine exercise. The main tasks of the exercise included integrating the fifth-generation fighter system of the ROK and US Air Forces, enhancing joint strike capabilities, conducting combat search and rescue exercises, and conducting large-scale take-off and landing flight training. Although the ROK claimed that the exercise was an "annual routine exercise," the "coincidence" of the timing could not but make the outside world suspect that the DPRK's missile test was also a response to the US-ROK military exercise. Earlier, Kim Jong-un publicly set the tone that inter-Korean relations are "no longer homogeneous relations" but "completely hostile relations" and that North and South Korea "will never be reunified." In addition, he also put forward the combat topic of "speeding up the process of preparing for war." It can be said that the current relations between the DPRK and the ROK have reached the point of saber rattling, and the situation on the peninsula is showing a trend of imminent rain.
Against this background, it is not difficult to understand that North Korean missiles are intensively lifted into the air. In response to the North Korean side's missile test, not surprisingly, South Korea's reaction was very strong, and the South Korean Ministry of National Defense warned on the 23rd that the South Korean side is strengthening its vigilance and surveillance of the DPRK, and at the same time closely sharing relevant intelligence with the United States and Japan. If North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face a timely, overwhelming, and decisive response from the South Korea-US alliance, and the North Korean regime will face an end. The crux of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula is very clear, that is, the United States and South Korea have refused to respond to the denuclearization measures taken by the DPRK, but have continuously strengthened pressure and deterrence on the DPRK, which has led to the deterioration of tension on the peninsula. In this regard, China has repeatedly warned and reminded that individual countries should face up to the crux of the Korean Peninsula issue, get rid of the myth of military pressure, implement the statement of "unconditional dialogue", and take concrete actions to promote the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue and maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.