North Korea ignores South's phone calls 5 days in a row, likely protesting US military drills
FOX NewsDec 24, 2022
South Korean news outlet YTN, citing a military official, reported that North Korea on Thursday possibly test-fired a "new type" of medium-range or longer ballistic missile, which, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff, flew for about 1K km (621 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
Seoul says this launch may have been Pyongyang's first test of a more maneuverable and harder-to-detect solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), in contrast to liquid-propellant ICBMs previously tested by North Korea.
By launching its new weapon system, Pyongyang isn't only blatantly violating UN resolutions yet again but is also further increasing regional tensions through its increasingly aggressive stance. The North Korean regime must finally come to its senses and accept Washington's offer for serious negotiations. Otherwise, the US will be forced to take further steps to protect its own security and that of its allies.
While pretending to seek stability in the region, the US is cornering North Korea with its ongoing military drills and deployment of strategic weapons systems around the peninsula. Both Pyongyang and Washington should exercise restraint and work on the conditions for serious dialogue. Instead of constantly stoking tensions, the US should take concrete steps to address North Korea's legitimate security concerns.