DPRK’s tenth missile test this year increases tensions with ROK

World Today

People walk by a TV news program showing a file image of a missile launch conducted by North Korea, at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, May 21, 2017. North Korea on Sunday fired a midrange ballistic missile, U.S. and South Korean officials said, in the latest weapons test for a country speeding up its development of nuclear weapons and missiles. The letters read: “The missile was fired from an area near Pukchang in South Phyongan Province.” (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

The Republic of Korea has said it’s still open to the possibility of dialogue, but that it must firmly respond to provocations.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducted another missile test.

It comes just a week after the U.N. Security Council once again demanded Pyongyang halt its weapons programs.

CGTN’s Jack Barton reports from Seoul.

The ROK’s new president, Moon Jae-in, called an emergency meeting following the DPRK’s tenth missile test this year. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile traveled about 500 kilometers. It took off Sunday afternoon from a location where a failed test was held last month.

Analysts are trying to determine whether the latest test is a sign that Pyongyang is determined to push on with its nuclear weapons program, or if it does want to come the negotiating table, but from a position of strength.

The latest launch followed the testing of a mid-to-long range missile just a week ago. The test indicated that Pyongyang had mastered the heat shields that could protect a nuclear weapon on re-entry. 

The launch was also condemned by Japan’s Prime Minister Shino Abe, who said he would try to prioritize the ban on the DPRK’s nuclear missile program at this month’s G7 Summit in Italy.

The DPRK has so far defied all calls to stop its nuclear and famous programs, despite a bid by the ROK president to re-open talks and normalize relations.