The National Interest

On Saturday, March 21, North Korea fired a pair of short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan. The missiles were fired from a site near Sonchon in North Pyongyang province and traveled around 410 kilometers, reaching an altitude of around 50 km. The launch was North Korea’s third missile test of the year, beginning with the first test on March 1.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff criticized the launch, stating “such military action by North Korea is highly inappropriate at a time when COVID-19 is causing difficulties worldwide.”

However, it would be incorrect to assume that North Korea would change its policy because of the crisis. In fact, quite the opposite is true. It is in times of crisis that Kim Jong-un would find missile tests ‘highly appropriate’ to project strength to his people.

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