On. you know, since the start of the year, north korea has sent a strong message to the world by conducting several missile tests while south korea, the united states and japan are currently analyzing details of this most recent launch that took place early this morning local time. based on the estimated maximum altitude and distance the missiles traveled, japanese and s south korean officials both believe north korea test fired two short-range missiles. as you mentioned, this is the fourth missile test by north korea in january alone, that s compared to two tests in all of last year. the increased number of missile tests should not come as a surprise, that s because just a few weeks ago kim jong-un promised to further strengthen his country s military capability during a speech closing out its five-day party meeting. before today s test, the last missile launch was carried out
Yeah, it has come as a surprise interpreted as an olive branch, and the justification that the north korean government has used for why its suspending nuclear weapons tests and the last one was conducted just last september, and missile launches, the last missile launch was in november of last year. the justification is that north korea has nuclear weapons. it s a nuclear-armed state. it has mastered in the words of the government statement, miniaturizing nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile technology, so it doesn t need to test them anymore. and now instead the government is going to focus on economic development and on improving relations with neighbors, though it says it will not use the existing arsenal unless there is direct nuclear threat to north korea. so there s no talk of dismantling at this point.