North Korea Prepares to Launch New Missile

According to reports from Washington and Seoul, North Korea is preparing to launch a new missile, which may be related to intercontinental ballistic missile tests. The South Korean state news agency, Yonhap, reported on January 19, citing 'senior military officials' and sources in the United States, that 'two new missiles have been mounted on a mobile launcher.' The report suggests that the missiles may have updated engines that Pyongyang tested last spring, during which North Korea made threatening remarks about a nuclear attack on U.S. soil. The Chosun Ilbo newspaper, published in Seoul, also reported on January 18, citing South Korean security officials, that they believe the North Korean army has moved parts of a missile to a potential launch site, which appears to be the lower sections of an intercontinental missile. Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, stated in his New Year's speech that the country is preparing to launch a ballistic intercontinental missile. None of Pyongyang's tests in this regard have been successful, but estimates indicate that the regime has made advancements in the technology of this weapon. Last week, several U.S. media outlets reported, citing a Pentagon official, that the Pentagon has installed an advanced maritime interception system to monitor potential missile launches from North Korea in the coming months. The latest developments come as the White House is about to transition to Donald Trump and his administration. Mr. Trump, a critic of China's policies, has criticized Beijing for not cooperating in limiting North Korea's military activities. Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, responded on Twitter in mid-January to Kim Jong-un's remarks about the new missile test, stating, 'This will not happen.' Some analysts and journalists in Japan or South Korea believe that the North Korean government's economic survival depends on China. Meanwhile, some analysts in China say that Pyongyang's actions are aimed at bringing the negotiating countries back to the table for nuclear talks. North Korea is facing extensive sanctions, including due to its missile program and nuclear tests.