“North Korea launches two missiles last Sunday … direct challenge to Biden”

The Washington Post (WP) reported 23 (local time) that North Korea launched several short-range missiles over the weekend. The newspaper cited multiple sources and reported that North Korea fired a missile on the 21st after fiercely accusing the ROK-US combined military exercise. Reuters reported that North Korea fired two missiles.

The missile type, launch point, and range are unknown. The WP assessed that the test-launch by North Korea represents the first direct challenge of North Korean State Council Chairman Kim Jong-un to US President Joe Biden.

Normally, North Korea’s missile test launches are publicly announced through the South Korean Joint Chief of Staff. It is very unusual to be known through foreign media reports like this one. It is also unusually accepted that North Korea is silent.

The WP said, “North Korea usually announces this (military) advancement to emphasize its technological prowess, but it has embarrassed US and South Korean officials by not commenting on the missile launch on Sunday.” The newspaper reported that the test launch was discovered in the process of US authorities collecting espionage abroad.

Summarizing the US media, North Korea test-fired a missile three days after the end of the ROK-US coalition training. The US and Korea conducted joint training from the 8th to the 18th.

The Biden administration, in its second month of inauguration, is in the process of inter-agency review to establish a policy toward North Korea, as it has announced its position to come up with a “new approach” that is different from the previous administration of Donald Trump. The North Korean missile launch could put pressure on the Biden administration as the period for reviewing North Korea policies is prolonged.

The WP cited three sources who knew the situation well. “The Biden administration is well aware that North Korea can be criticized if North Korea resumes nuclear provocations while they are aesthetically pleasing.” “Early this month, North Korea will resume testing. “This concern has become even more urgent as US intelligence authorities catch the signal that it is possible.”

Pentagon officials have also warned over the past several weeks of the possibility that North Korea will test missiles.

Against this background, the Biden administration announced on the 13th through Reuters that “I contacted North Korea through various channels since mid-February, but did not receive a response.” The next day, White House spokesman Jen Saki officially confirmed this.

Three days later, on the 16th, North Korea’s Labor Party Vice President Kim Yeo-jeong condemned the ROK-U.S. coalition training, and said to the United States, “I advise you a word for the new administration of the United States.” It would be better not to make it,” he warned.

Two days later, on the 18th, Sun-hee Sun-hee, the first injured of North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, spoke through the Chosun Central News Agency and said, “Unless the US policy of hostilities against North Korea (North Korea) is withdrawn, no contact or dialogue between the two Koreas can be made.” Will continue to ignore such attempts by the United States in the future.”

Washington = Correspondent Park Hyun-young [email protected]