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The second page of the Nov. 16 edition of the Rodong Sinmun
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Speculation abounds concerning intention of N. Korean’s leader’s remarks
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was quoted in a page-two lead story in the Rodong Sinmun newspaper’s Nov. 16 edition as having “directed the testing of newly developed state-of-the-art tactical weaponry during an on-the-spot guidance visit to the Academy of National Defense Science.” The on-the-spot guidance from Kim calling for new weapons testing comes one year after he declared state nuclear armament “complete” during a visit to the Hwasong-15 ICBM-level missile test site on Nov. 29, 2017. Seen as an unusual move amid the current heated tug-of-war between Pyongyang and Washington over the holding of a second summit early next year, the direction could be interpreted in numerous ways in terms of Kim’s intention and the potential effects on the political situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, the North’s description of the “state-of-the-art” weaponry as being “tactical” rather than strategic and meant as an “ironclad defense of our national territory” rather than for attack purposes indirectly hints that the remarks were not directed at the US. No specifics were disclosed on what the “state-of-the-art tactical weaponry” would consist of. The Rodong Sinmun also dedicated its full front page to a report on Kim’s directions for a “general plan for the construction of Sinuiju” – suggesting that the state-of-the-art tactical weaponry testing was not his chief interest. Kim was quoted describing the “state-of-the-art tactical weaponry” as “like posthumously born weapons” and a “weapon system from which the great general [Kim Jong-il] himself planted the seeds for during his lifetime, ushering it step by step toward complete development with his special care.” The message was taken as suggesting the weapon development had been initiated and directed by Kim Jong-il before his death rather than by Kim Jong-un. “If testing has taken place in the coastal region near Sinuiju, we believe it is in the early stages of development,” a military source said. The source avoided direct mention of what sort of weapons were being tested, explaining that it “could expose our [intelligence] capabilities.” But an examination of the officials accompanying Kim suggests the weapons were either tactical missiles, new long-range artillery, or anti-tank guided missiles. The Rodong Sinmun reported that Kim had been “accompanied by Comrades Choe Ryong-hae, Ri Pyong-chol, Ri Jong-sik, Cho Yong-won, Kim Yong-su, Kim Chang-son, and Pak Jong-chon.” Among the names mentioned were two veteran People’s Army figures in munitions industry department first deputy director Ri Pyong-chol and artillery division director Pak Jong-chon. Ri also accompanied Kim Jong-un during his on-the-spot guidance for testing of the Hwasong-14 missile on July 4 of last year, while the presence of Pak hinted at the possibility of new long-range artillery. Military authorities insisted the latest North Korean weapon testing was not meant as a military provocation or a “message” to other countries with strategic implications. Testing but no “firing” or “launching” “The North merely talked about ‘testing’ [the weapons], but did not mention ‘firing’ or ‘launching’ them,” a military official said, adding that it would be “inappropriate to deem this a military provocation.” “The use of the term ‘state-of-the-art’ appears meant to convey to the domestic audience that [North Korea] aspires to become a major military power, while the use of ‘tactical’ suggested this is not a show of military force for the outside,” the official explained. Experts saw Kim Jong-un’s first on-the-spot guidance for weapons testing in a year as unusual, but added that it did not appear to hold any strategic implications for North Korea-US relations or the Korean Peninsula situation. “This on-the-spot guidance by Chairman Kim falls at the level of typical security activities, along the same lines as President Moon Jae-in attending a submarine launch ceremony,” said a former senior official. “As far as expressing any kind of strategic message in connection with US negotiations goes, it’s too weak a punch,” the former official concluded. Four days before an inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, President Moon attended a Sept. 14 launch ceremony for the 3,000-ton submarine Dosan An Chang-Ho, the first developed using domestic technology. “‘Peace through strength’ is the unwavering security strategy of this administration,” he declared at the time. By Lee Je-hun and Yoo Kang-moon, senior staff writers Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
