North Korea launched ballistic missiles into the sea on Sunday, accelerating its testing activity amid tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran and ongoing discussions about potential talks with the United States and South Korea.
The intensified missile activity by Pyongyang—marking the fourth such launch this month and the seventh this year—appears aimed at demonstrating its self-defense capabilities and increasing its international leverage, according to experts cited by Reuters.
“Missile launches may be a way to show that—unlike Iran—we have self-defense capabilities,” said Kim Ki-jung, a former presidential security adviser in South Korea.
“The North also appears to be applying preemptive pressure and staging a show of force ahead of engaging in dialogue with the United States and South Korea,” he added.
