N. Korea fires apparent ICBM toward East Sea
Korea HeraldJul 07, 2023
The Facts
North Korea's state-run media reported Monday that its leader Kim Jong Un had overseen a cruise missile test on the eve of annual military drills between South Korea and the US.
The North's official media further stated that Kim oversaw the missile test aboard a warship on the east coast of North Korea. The launch was intended to "verify the combat function of the ship and the feature of its missile system" in preparation for an attack mission in warlike circumstances.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
South Korea maintains a substantial capacity to overwhelm any North Korean provocation. Yet, this latest naval missile test suggests that Pyongyang can threaten the South from multiple points of origin if it thinks an existential threat is looming. The US and South Korea will remain steadfast to the North Korean threat and work tirelessly to preserve peace in the peninsula.
Establishment-critical narrative
North Korea, like any other nation, has a right to conduct military tests. It's the United States, not North Korea, that's escalating tensions in the region, as these hegemonic actors try to isolate Pyongyang from the world and pressure other nations to follow their lead. A massive and ever-expanding military exercise on the doorstep of North Korea is proof enough of the disrespect the country faces from the West.
