North Korea claimed last Tuesday that it had, defying warnings from the United States and its allies, successfully launched its first spy satellite into orbit. Following two other failures, the ballistic missile technology used in this launch marks the third attempt by the nuclear-armed state to launch a spy satellite this year.

The event also coincided with the 109th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung (founder of North Korea and grandfather of current Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un), which is celebrated as a national holiday in the country. Some analysts have suggested that the launch was a way for the current Supreme Leader to bolster his legitimacy and authority among his people and his military.

In response, South Korea has suspended parts of the Comprehensive Military Agreement pact it made with North Korea in 2018, which was aimed at reducing tensions along the border. This represents a setback for inter-Korean relations, which have been stalled since the collapse of the second summit between Kim and former president of the United States Donald Trump in Hanoi in February 2019. (The summit failed to produce a deal on denuclearization and sanctions relief, leaving the diplomatic process in limbo.)

The launch, a “brazen violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions,” “risk[ed] destabilizing the security situation in the region and beyond,” said National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, joining strong condemnations from the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. The launch also drew criticism from other countries, such as France, Germany, and Britain, who expressed their “grave concern” and called for a “strong and united” response from the international community.

The U.N. Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the launch and possible sanctions against North Korea.

North Korea, for its part, has said that it has a “sovereign right” to develop spy satellites and other technologies to defend itself against what it sees as military aggression by the U.S. and its allies, vowing to launch more satellites in the near future. However, experts have cast doubt on the success of the latest launch, saying that no satellites have been confirmed to have entered Earth’s orbit.

The urgency and complexity of the North Korean nuclear issue poses a serious challenge to the Biden administration. The U.S. has said that it is open to dialogue with North Korea, but has also signaled a more co-ordinated and calibrated approach with its allies and partners. Furthermore, the U.S. has re-affirmed its commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan and has conducted joint military exercises and missile tests in the region.

If North Korea hopes to gain leverage and attention from the U.S. and its allies, therefore, the spy satellite launch may be a risky move. Depending on the U.S. response, the launch may backfire and invite pressure and isolation from the international community.

We are deeply concerned by North Korea’s provocative actions, which undermine the prospects for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. The nation’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles is not only a threat to its neighbors but also a challenge to the global non-proliferation regime. Therefore, the launch underscores the need for a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the North Korean nuclear issue, which requires dialogue, co-operation, and trust among all the parties involved. We urge North Korea to refrain from further provocations and return to dialogue with the international community.