On March 24, North Korea test-fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time since 2017. The missile splashed down in the Sea of Japan after flying to a distance of approximately 1,080 kilometers (671 miles) with a peak height of around 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles). Experts suggest this test showcased a new type of missile, likely the longest-range North Korean missile yet. The purported Hwasong-17 missile could reach the U.S. Eastern Coast with its longer range and may be the “largest mobile ICBM designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads” in the world, according to The Washington Post. The launch earned condemnation and the threat of further sanctions from government officials in Tokyo, Seoul, and Washington.
The South Korean military launched its own warning missiles for the first time since 2017 in response to Pyongyang’s test. Seoul emphasized it has the “capability and willingness to respond immediately and punish” North Korea should Pyongyang choose to act provocatively. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also denounced the launch, declaring “It’s an unforgivable recklessness. We absolutely condemn the act.” The U.S., South Korean, and Japanese ambassadors to the United Nations requested a United Nations Security Council meeting to further discuss the escalation. While discussing the U.S.’s reaction, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki referred to the test as destabilizing and argued it was a “brazen violation” of Security Council resolutions.
The three allies should coordinate sanctions in response to the launch and affirm their continued focus on East Asian security, even as Russia and Ukraine dominate world headlines. Sanctions cannot be solely symbolic, but rather should impose real penalties on Pyongyang for its provocation. The U.S. should continue to signal its willingness to work with South Korea and Japan to effectively counter the North Korean threat. As a positive step forward, the U.S. military has already intensified its intelligence and surveillance collection activities in the Pacific. While South Korea prepares for a presidential transition, a strong response will be especially important. However, South Korea’s president-elect, who has repeatedly emphasized a more hawkish foreign policy, must also be careful to avoid overly aggressive moves once in office.
Pyongyang’s new test may be partially motivated by the recent election of Yoon Suk-yeol in the South. Yoon belongs to the conservative People Power Party and is expected to take a harder line on North Korea than his progressive predecessor. Nevertheless, this launch is not the first escalatory behavior from Pyongyang this year. North Korea had already conducted two tests on what experts believe are components of the Hwasong missile, although Pyongyang claimed it was testing satellites. The South Korean military has also seen signs the North Koreans may be restoring tunnels at their nuclear testing site. The tunnels were destroyed during positive relations and negotiations with the Trump administration in 2018. Nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea have been stalled since 2019 despite renewed offers of talks from the Biden administration.
Despite the success of Thursday’s launch, North Korea still has a way to go before it has mastered the Hwasong-17. The military has yet to prove it has the technology to protect a warhead during atmospheric re-entry in the final phases of an ICBM strike. Pyongyang may continue to accelerate its tests to demonstrate the Hwasong-17’s capability, especially ahead of the joint U.S.-South Korean exercises planned for April. The U.S., Japan, and South Korea must decide how to respond to the increased threat while North Korea tries to cement its place as a nuclear power.
