North Korea Still Missile Fire In Japan Sea

North Korea's number one Kim Jong-un, in a photo released on May 28, 2017.

North Korea refuses to be intimidated. A new salvo of cruise missiles was launched on Thursday, June 8, 2017. Ten days after the firing of an improved Scud missile, the Pyongyang regime launched "several" short-range ground-to-sea missiles that spoiled Japanese sea.

This new act of defiance occurred the day after the departure of two American aircraft carriers, who were exercising in the area. It also takes place while the UN Security Council has just reinforced the sanctions against the North Korean nuclear and ballistic program.

Shooting from the port of Wonsan, in front of Japan, the North Korean cruising missiles traveled 200 km and reached an altitude of 2 km, said the South Korean army staff. The number of projectiles was not specified.

These missiles are used to hit ships. We can see in this shot a clear message addressed to the United States, while two American aircraft carriers have just left the region.

Towards new negotiations?

In Seoul, some analysts also believe that North Korea is seeking to prepare for possible negotiations, a dialogue openly desired by South Korea and even evoked by US President Donald Trump.

Pyongyang would seek to advance its ballistic program as soon as possible, to address future talks in a position of strength. The regime sees nuclear deterrence as its best chance of survival, and in the past month, it has averaged one shot a week.

This acceleration does not cause any panic in the South. The new South Korean president Moon Jae-in has just announced that the highly controversial deployment of a US anti-missile shield will be delayed for several months.