When Did North Korea Launch A Missile
In recent years, North Korea has been making consistently controversial headlines worldwide – much of which has been centered around the nation’s increasingly powerful long-range missiles. While some speculate that North Korea’s nuclear-tipped missiles may be in their final stages of development, many experts continue to warn against such assumptions. The truth of the matter is that although the nation has made strides in its missile testing capabilities, there are still many questions to be answered. In the article below, we will dive deeper into the history of North Korea’s missile implements – from the first few North Korean test launches, to the timeline of modern-day missile tests.
Early Missile Development
North Korea is believed to have began developing missiles as early as the 1980s; however, the development of their nuclear warheads was not publicly known until the early 2000s. Nevertheless, North Korea began their missile-testing program in 1984 when it launched its Rodong-1 missile, which had a range of up to 1,300 km. Since then, the North Koreans have steadily increased their missile capabilities by introducing a number of different ballistic missiles. Yet, even with their increased abilities, the military might of the North Korean regime has been limited in comparison to other nearby nations; including, but not limited to, China, Russia, and the United States. As such, nuclear-armed missiles are viewed as an important bargaining chip for the country in the realm of international relations.
Modern Missile Development
Beginning in 2009, North Korea began to test long-range missiles at an unprecedented rate. The first successful long-range missile launch was the Unha-3 under the leadership of the late Kim Jong-Il. During this time, North Korea also announced that it was successful in developing a miniaturized nuclear warhead, which was capable of being placed onto the long-range rockets. North Korea reassured the world of its feared military capabilities again in 2012 when the second successful long-range ballistic missile test was launched and it even tested a three-stage rocket the following year, and claimed success for that test as well.
Nevertheless, in recent years North Korea appears to have been more restrained in its use of ballistic missiles. In spite of this, North Korea has made clear its intention to become a powerful player on the international stage by continuing to steadily increase its nuclear arsenal – which puts world peace at risk.
Analysis & Insights
Given the current global political climate, it is highly likely that North Korea – now under the rule of Kim Jong Un – will continue developing and testing its ballistic missiles. North Korean leadership has made it no secret that it believes possessing nuclear-armed ballistic missiles is the key to holding weight and relevance in the international community. Even so, international leaders and groups such as the UN continue to pressure North Korean authorities to come to the discussion table and agree to a mutually beneficial nuclear disarmament agreement.
Though there is still much uncertainty surrounding North Korea and its nuclear ambitions, what is certain is that the future safety of the international community rests upon the two sides agreeing to a common ground. One of the biggest challenges that lies ahead is convincing North Korea that it can gain security and economic benefits through negotiation and diplomacy, as opposed to by means of further weapon development – which only serves to instil further fear and chaos.
Outside Western Influence
Additionally, it should be noted that North Korea’s nuclear ambitions are heavily intertwined with outside nations. For instance, all of the nation’s nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles are believed to have been produced in neighbouring countries. While North Korea does not have a large military-industrial base of its own, it is suspected to have sourced expertise from other foreign nations in order to piece together its nuclear arsenal.
In particular, it is believed that Iran supplied missiles and guidance systems to North Korea in 2017. This supplies further proof that North Korea is getting assistance from powerful nations in order to increase its own nuclear capabilities, which greatly threatens world stability.
Potential Changes On The Horizon
The bottom line is that without action the future may remain in the balance. To prevent a future of instability and disaster, world leaders must come together to construct a cohesive and unified plan of action in order to bring an end to the nuclear arms race in North Korea and reduce the threat of a nuclear meltdown. The organizations involved must also be ready to respond to any sudden changes in North Korea’s nuclear policy – as well as other regional matters – with vigour. At the same time, enforcing economic sanctions to properly politicize North Korea’s new leadership is essential for achieving any meaningful changes.
The only way for the international community to make progress and protect itself from potential hostility is by communicating and partnering together to craft a positive solution. In the end, any successful resolution will require thoughtful planning and a real willingness to work towards a brighter future.
Fighting Internal Propaganda
Finally, ending the nuclear threat from North Korea also requires addressing the country’s internal ideological control. While North Korea’s political system ensures absolute power for the ruling forces and limits citizens’ freedoms, it simultaneously manufactures and maintains an oftentimes distorted view of international politics and relations through the spread of disinformation and propaganda. This in turn leads to an environment where North Koreans are constantly taught to believe that nuclear weapons are a necessary and viable defence against external threats.
Political reform in North Korea must entail a dismantling of oppressive systems as well as an introduction of genuinely independent media outlets, which can then begin to spread accurate information to all citizens of the nation. This process needs to be carried out in a manner that encourages citizens to think critically and understand the truth of their nation’s nuclear ambitions.
Managing The International Community’s Response
Equally important is for the international community to respond to North Korea’s nuclear threat in a way that does not increase the risk of conflict. Both sanctions and military force can be used in an attempt to control North Korea’s missile tests, but it is essential that such measures are used sparingly and with a clear purpose. All diplomatic solutions must be reached through negotiations and dialogue, as resorting to violence is ultimately only a short-term solution at best.
At the same time, international organisations such as the United Nations (UN) are crucial in mediating the international response to North Korea’s missile tests and its nuclear ambitions. Through the strong network of the UN and its members, solutions that benefit all of the international actors can potentially be found.
Attempting Restraint From Domestic Pressures
Adequately controlling North Korea’s nuclear ambitions is a difficult process, as the nation is faced with immense domestic pressure to protect its power. Domestically, North Korea continue to praise its military capabilities in order to maintain its power domestically. Further, North Korean politicians have a vested interest in ensuring their military power and nuclear capabilities remain credible – which leaves little room for the nation’s leaders to make concessions even if they are offered. As such, the stability of the nation is largely dependent upon its leaders being willing to negotiate with the international community.
Nonetheless, aside from the regime’s own international goals, there could potentially be a chance for a prosperous future in North Korea. It is possible that with increased investment and support the nation could open up its borders to the rest of the world – granting its citizens the democratic freedoms and rights to which they have been denied for so long. But for these changes to come to pass, North Korea must take the lead and be willing to cooperate with the international community.
Funding For Research & Development
Finally, North Korea must also commit to drastically increasing research and development in their missile technology. As with any advanced high-tech apparatus, the nation’s missiles require the instrumental input of an experienced engineering and science team in order to be successful. As such, programmes must be created in order to train the necessary experts and to ensure adequate funding is being allocated to the research and development needed for improving the nation’s weapon capabilities.
Despite the challenges posed by North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, it is important to remember that opportunity remains. As global leaders continue to debate the best way to move forward, the international response must remain unified in order to bring peace and stability to the region. Starting with a policy of negotiations and a common goal of disarmament, the future could possibly become much brighter for all nations involved.
