Initial Thoughts on the North Korean Missile Test

North Korea gave the world a nasty surprise by announcing a successful missile launch, after stating it was postponed. The move only cements the nation's isolation and could even endanger aid for its impoverished people. Jonathan D. Pollack, a specialist in East Asia politics and security, argues that North Korea did not do itself any favors and describes the international responses: The launch, timed a week before the election in democratic South Korea, may or may not affect the outcome. The US intelligence community may have been caught by surprise and is highly critical, calling for more sanctions. And North Korea defied neighboring China, which had urged the country to cancel the launch. But China, concerned by even graver action by the North, limits its public disapproval. “Another nuclear test, however, would be a qualitatively different affront to China, and would underscore Beijing’s inability to prevent Pyongyang from embarking on exceedingly risky steps,” Pollack writes. The launch was a technological step in North Korea’s militarization, but didn’t impress world powers. – YaleGlobal