N. Korea claims successful launch of new IRBM tipped with hypersonic warhead
Korea HeraldAPR 2024
North Korea Tests New Alleged Hypersonic Missile
story
Image copyright: Mikhail Svetlov/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-North Korea narrative
Though Kim may seem like an irrational actor, he's simply using the only leverage he has in dealing with South Korea and the US. His nuclear ambitions are designed to seek political gains and sanctions relief after successive American administrations derailed diplomatic routes to denuclearization.
Anti-North Korea narrative
Although analysis of this missile test is ongoing, Pyongyang's actions must be condemned and North Korea must pay a price for continuing to advance its missile technology. If the North is hoping to impact South Korea's upcoming elections, it's probably out of luck because this launch wasn't that impressive.
Metaculus Prediction
There's a 20% chance that there will be war between North Korea and South Korea before January 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
