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Wow, this was so interesting to read.
A U.S. general had predicted on March 16 that North Korea might start testing an intercontinental ballistic missile “in the near future.” Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck was testifying before Senate Armed Services Committee.
[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/north-korea-could-soon-test-new-intercontinental-missile-u-s-n1261261]
Gen VanHerck was proven right, somewhat. North Korea launched two short-range missiles off its west coast on Sunday sending neighboring countries of South Korea and Japan into a tizzy.
But the Biden administration played it cool at the launch. President Joe Biden said it was “business as usual” while dismissing the launch. He also said, “There’s no new wrinkle in what they did,” on Monday night.
U.S. officials have been quoted as saying that they were expecting something on these lines as satellite images from the North Korean missile launch sites had showed increased vehicular activity. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-missile-launch-joe-biden-daunting-challenge-kim-jong-un/]
By launching missiles, is North Korea again seeking attention?
It was way back in 2009 when the then U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had likened the leadership in Pyongyang to “small children and unruly teenagers and people who are demanding attention.” [http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/23/us.north.korea/index.html]
The Biden administration last month expressed its desire to start talks with North Korea, but it was rebuffed a few days later with the sister of the North Korean leader, Kim Yo Jong, warning the United States over its military drills with South Korea.
According to analysts, North Korea has been continuing to refine its weapons capabilities and trying to revive its nuclear capabilities. Although President Donald Trump held summit level talks with Kim Jong-un in 2018, but the talks broke down.
North Korea has not conducted nuclear or long-range missile tests since 2018, but it may want to rattle its neighbors while trying also putting the U.S. on notice.
Read more:
A news report on the launch:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/25/north-korea-missile-test-japan-south-korea
Biden laughs off North Korea’s missile launch:
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/03/24/north-korea-missile-test-biden-reaction-sot-vpx.cnn
A chronology of U.S.-North Korean Nuclear and Missile Diplomacy:
https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/dprkchron