<figure id="attachment_227803" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3000px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-227803"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="9e2b8222"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2022/02/aflo_179537513.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-227803" class="wp-caption-text">North Korea&#8217;s announcement of the Mars 12 launch and &#8220;images from space&#8221; (Image: KNS/KCNA/AFP/Afro)</figcaption></figure>
 On January 30, North Korea launched a missile for the seventh time this year.
 This time, however, the meaning is completely different from the previous six. Not only Japan and South Korea, but also the United States was threatened. In the previous six launches, the missiles made no sound.
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 The previous six missiles were mainly hypersonic missiles, launched at five times the speed of sound (Mach 5) or higher with a low trajectory. These are the latest weapons, but they are short-range missiles. Although it turns out that North Korea&#8217;s technological capabilities have improved, the range of all of these missiles is about 500 kilometers, and it would be difficult to fly them beyond the Japanese archipelago to the Pacific Ocean.
 However, North Korea&#8217;s Korean Central News Agency announced that the missile launched on January 30 was the &#8220;Mars 12,&#8221; a medium-range ballistic missile with a range of about 5,000 kilometers. The missile has a range of about 5,000 kilometers, which puts it within range of Guam, where the U.S. military base is located.
 According to the Korean Central News Agency, the medium-range ballistic missile &#8220;Mars 12&#8221; was launched at a higher angle than usual, called &#8220;lofted orbit. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the &#8220;Mars 12&#8221; medium-range ballistic missile was launched on a &#8220;lofted trajectory&#8221; at a higher angle than usual. It is thought to be aimed at impressing the public with the success of the ballistic trajectory into the atmosphere.
 There are other reasons why this launch poses a threat. North Korea announced that the launch was a &#8216;check firing test. If this is true, it means that the Mars 12 missile will be used as a test missile. If this is true, it means that Mars 12 is already in mass production. It may be that preparations for an attack on the U.S. are being made.
<h2>Resumption of nuclear testing is just a matter of time</h2>
 North Korea launched the Mars 12 three times in 2005. Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, observed the launch and said, &#8220;The actualization of &#8216;Mars 12&#8217; has become a reality. In April of the following year, North Korea began full-scale nuclear tests and test firings of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
 North Korea&#8217;s ICBM, Mars 15, is said to have a range of 10,000 kilometers. The range of North Korea&#8217;s ICBM &#8220;Mars 15&#8221; is said to reach 10,000 km, which would put it within range of the U.S. mainland Los Angeles. This is a considerable threat to the United States. However, at the June 2006 summit between Kim Jong-un and then President Trump, a temporary freeze on nuclear tests and ICBM test firings was announced.
 Three and a half years have passed since then. The U.S. president has been replaced by Biden, but there has been no progress in U.S.-North Korea relations. North Korea is suffering from a triple whammy of economic sanctions, a new coronavirus, and natural disasters, and its people are becoming exhausted. It is not surprising that North Korea has decided that there is no benefit in adopting a conciliatory stance. It is only a matter of time before they break the freeze and conduct another nuclear test or test-firing of an ICBM.
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 What is North Korea&#8217;s intention in increasing the range and performance of its missiles? The aim seems to be the creation of a &#8220;state of war. Shin&#8217;ichi Hen, editor-in-chief of the Korea Report, tells us.
 I think North Korea wants to recreate the Korean Peninsula Crisis of 2005. At that time, North Korea repeatedly launched the Mars 12 missile and even flew the Mars 15 ICBM. The relationship between the U.S. and North Korea became tense and deteriorated to the point of military conflict. Kim Jong-un threatened the United States, saying, &#8220;I have a nuclear button on my table. In the end, he was able to hold a meeting with President Trump.
 This time, too, Kim Jong-un has shaken the Biden administration by launching a missile that is within range of U.S. territory. If President Biden continues to impose sanctions without a stance of dialogue, North Korea will take a hard line. Instead of test firing a missile into the Sea of Japan, it will launch a long-range missile into the Pacific Ocean. This could lead to crossing the red line with the US.
 North Korea is becoming more and more radicalized due to the &#8220;silence&#8221; of the United States. After the Beijing Winter Olympics in China, which is behind North Korea, North Korea is expected to launch another more powerful demonstration.

 KNS/KCNA/AFP/Afro

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