06 Jan 2022

“North Korea cares about China's response, but Beijing did not really criticize Pyongyang's latest missile test. This is like North Korea getting a 'green light' to continue its weapons tests. Unless North Korea conducts a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile or stages missile tests too often in a short period of time, China is likely to stand back and watch. North Korea is likely to continue its missile tests regardless of the results of the South's next presidential election, as they see it as an independent issue. The North's negotiation strategy toward the South's new administration would be presented in another way. If the candidate of the ruling liberal bloc is elected, North Korea is likely to insist on its previous stance that the South and the U.S. should first withdraw what it calls hostile policies against it. If the candidate of the conservative bloc becomes the next president, it is expected to stage a certain level of provocation to see the response of the new administration.”

www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/0...
Type of Source: News

Park Won-gon

   Professor

Professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University

Contexts (to suggest a new Context click here)

China - North Korea relations

North Korea - South Korea relations

North Korea missile program

North Korea missile test and nuclear test - Considerations