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Experts: N. Korea's New Missiles Designed to Dodge Preemptive Strikes

Kim Dong-hyun

   Christy Lee and Kim Young-gyo contributed to this report which
   originated on VOA's Korean Service.

   WASHINGTON --The recent missile tests by North Korea, including one
   Saturday, show potential weapons that are designed to circumvent any
   preemptive strikes that would destroy them on their launch pads before
   being fired, experts said.

   North Korea wants to "be able to roll out a launcher, fire immediately,
   and not give the U.S. and South Korea an opportunity to attack the
   launcher and destroy them before they can launch their missiles," said
   Bruce Bennett, a senior defense and analyst at the Rand Corp.

   North Korea said Sunday it [1]tested "another new weapons system" with
   an "advantageous tactical character different [than] the existing
   weapons systems" through the official Korean Central News Agency
   (KCNA).

   The statement came the day after [2]North Korea tested two missiles,
   which South Korean officials described as short-range missiles.
   Saturday's test is North Korea's fifth launch in less than a month.

   On Tuesday, Andrea Thompson, undersecretary for Arms Control and
   International Security at the State Department, said, "We will continue
   to call out [North Korea] on their missile testing," expressing concern
   over the new type of missiles North Korea said it tested.

References

   1. https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1565474510-547114987/supreme-leader-kim-jong-un-guides-test-fire-of-new-weapon/
   2. https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/north-korea-fires-more-missiles-after-trump-receives-beautiful-letter

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