North Korean Missiles: Japan, US and South Korea Must Cooperate To Promote Restraint

Published in Tokyo Shimbun
(Japan) on 12 January 2022
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by T Kagata. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
North Korea has repeatedly launched missiles since the beginning of this year. Following the test on Jan. 5, the missile launched on Jan. 11 flew at a hypersonic speed about 10 times the speed of sound, according to the South Korean Ministry of National Defense.

North Korea's missile technology has improved dramatically in recent years, and there are limits to what can be done through conventional missile defense networks. Japan, the U.S. and South Korea must continue to work together to encourage North Korea to exercise restraint and lead the way to dialogue.

North Korea has repeatedly conducted launch tests of cruise missiles and other types of missiles following the announcement of its five-year plan to increase the capability of national defense at the party convention last January.

This year, the Winter Olympics are scheduled to be held in February in China, a friendly nation. Some predicted that North Korea would refrain from provocation, but it has continued to launch missiles.

There will be a series of important anniversaries in North Korea over the course of this year. Feb. 16 will mark the 80th anniversary of the birth of Kim Jong Il, the father of Kim Jong Un, and April 15 will mark the 110th anniversary of the birth of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung. The South Korean presidential election is also scheduled for March.

North Korea has fallen into economic hardship due to the two-year-long border blockade. By using the anniversaries as an opportunity to take repeated provocative action, North Korea may be trying to suppress the dissatisfaction that has been building up in the country, while at the same time trying to find a clue to improving relations with the U.S. and easing sanctions imposed by the international community.

However, such an approach is counterproductive and will only lead to greater isolation.

The United Nations Security Council held a closed-door emergency meeting on Jan. 10. Prior to the meeting, some countries issued a statement condemning North Korea and urging it to exercise restraint and respond to dialogue. If the missile launches continue, China and Russia, which have shown their sympathy for North Korea, may come to support additional sanctions.

Hypersonic missiles fly at high speed and low altitudes, with warheads capable of maneuvering to hit targets, making it difficult for conventional missile defense networks to intercept them.

In addition to China and Russia, which have been focusing on development in recent years, North Korea's deployment of hypersonic weapons could change the situation in Northeast Asia. This is a serious situation for both Japan and South Korea, but they have not been able to communicate or exchange information due to conflicts over historical issues.

In order to face North Korea and improve the situation in East Asia, there is an urgent need to improve relations between Japan and South Korea.


北朝鮮ミサイル 日米韓協調で自制促せ
2022年1月12日

 北朝鮮が今年に入り、ミサイル発射を繰り返している。五日の実験に続き、十一日に発射されたミサイルは、韓国の防衛当局によると音速の十倍(マッハ10)前後の極超音速で飛行したという。
 北朝鮮のミサイル技術は近年、飛躍的に向上しており、従来のミサイル防衛網による対処には限界がある。日米韓三カ国が協調して北朝鮮に自制を促し、対話に導く努力を続けなければならない。
 北朝鮮は昨年一月、党大会で国防力強化五カ年計画を発表したことを受け、巡航ミサイルなどの発射実験を繰り返してきた。
 今年は二月に友好国・中国で冬季五輪が予定され、北朝鮮が挑発を控えるとの見方もあったが、ミサイル発射を続けている。
 今後、北朝鮮にとって重要な記念日が続く。二月十六日は金正恩(キムジョンウン)総書記の父、金正日(キムジョンイル)氏の生誕八十年、四月十五日は祖父、金日成(キムイルソン)氏の生誕百十年に当たる。三月には韓国大統領選も控えている。
 北朝鮮は二年に及ぶ国境封鎖で経済的苦境に陥っている。記念日を機に挑発行動を繰り返すことで国内にたまる不満を抑える一方、対米関係改善の糸口をつかみ、国際社会による制裁の緩和につなげようとしているのだろう。
 しかし、そうした手法は逆効果であり、孤立を深めるだけだ。
 国連安全保障理事会は十日、非公開の緊急会合を開いた。会合に先立ち、一部の国は北朝鮮に対して、自制と対話に応じるよう求める非難声明を発表した。ミサイル発射が今後も続けば、北朝鮮に理解を示す中国やロシアも、追加制裁の支持に回るかもしれない。
 極超音速型ミサイルは変則軌道で低空を高速に飛行し、標的を攻撃するため、従来のミサイル防衛網では迎撃が困難とされる。
 近年開発に力を入れる中ロに加え、北朝鮮が配備に至れば、北東アジア情勢を一変させる可能性もある。日韓両国には深刻な事態だが、歴史問題を巡る対立で意思疎通や情報交換ができていない。
 北朝鮮と向き合い、東アジア情勢を改善させるためにも、日韓両国の関係改善が急務である。
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Israel: From the Cities of America to John Bolton: Trump’s Vendetta Campaign against Opponents Reaches New Heights

Russia: Trump Names Man Fomenting Revolution in the U.S.*

Pakistan: Trump’s Gaza Blueprint Unfolds

Topics

Ireland: We Must Stand Up to Trump on Climate. The Alternative Is Too Bleak To Contemplate

Canada: Carney Takes Us Backward with Americans on Trade

Thailand: Appeasing China Won’t Help Counter Trump

Poland: Ukraine Is Still Far from Peace. What Was Actually Decided at the White House?

Ireland: Irish Examiner View: Would We Miss Donald Trump and Would a Successor Be Worse?

Canada: Minnesota School Shooting Is Just More Proof That America Is Crazed

Related Articles

Turkey: Pay Up or Step Aside: Tariffs in America’s ‘Protection Money’ Diplomacy

Guyana: Guyana’s Ongoing Subservience to the US, Jagdeo’s Really

Nigeria: 80 Years after Hiroshima, Nagasaki Atomic Bombings: Any Lesson?

Brazil: Trump’s Tariffs Anger the World – But Betting against America’s A.I. Juggernaut Risks Economic Oblivion

Palestine: Axis under Siege? The US-Israeli Plan To Isolate Iran before the Next War