[Details] Why does it continue to fire even in the North Korean Korona-ka?

As the number of fever suspected to be caused by the new coronavirus in North Korea continues, state media has announced that the number of fever in the country has exceeded 3.06 million by the 24th, experts point out that the infection is serious. ..

Meanwhile, on the morning of the 25th, North Korea launched three missiles, including a missile presumed to be an ICBM = intercontinental ballistic missile.

I will explain in detail why North Korea continues to launch missiles even in the Korona-ka.

(International Department, Yukari Kondo)

Over 3 million fever in North Korea

North Korea announced on the 24th that a new symptom of fever was confirmed in more than 115,000 people in one day until 6:00 pm, and the cumulative number of fever people since the end of last month has risen to more than 3,064,000 people. It is 1 in 9 people.

At the Workers' Party of Korea's Politburo meeting on the 12th of this month, it was decided to move to the "maximum emergency protection system", and it is trying to contain the infection by blocking the city and human wave tactics.

Atsuhito Isozaki of Keio University, who is familiar with the situation in North Korea, commented on the current state of the new corona in North Korea. It was done with no mask. At this point, I think the North Korean authorities were confident that they were holding down Corona, but since the beginning of May, there have actually been infected people in Pyongyang. If you look at it, there are a lot of feverish people. Taking these things seriously, North Korea itself is saying that it will increase its sense of caution toward the country. "

Why are you not receiving the vaccine?

On the other hand, North Korea has never received a vaccine for the new corona.

I think that the reason is that the transportation network at low temperature called "cold chain" is not in place and that people from abroad are reluctant to come in for monitoring.

"There isn't enough power to get the cold chain in place, and if we get a vaccine, people come in from abroad on the technical and monitoring sides. After all, make decisions very carefully. I have been extremely reluctant to bring in people from abroad because of the system, but if it is clear that there are so many infected people, North Korea's response may change in the future. "

Launch missiles even in Korona-ka

Under these circumstances, North Korea launched three ICBM = intercontinental ballistic missiles and short-range ballistic missiles on the morning of the 25th (announced by the Korean Army).

A high-ranking official of the Korean presidential office says that he is proceeding with the analysis by considering it as a new ICBM "Hwasong-17".

General Secretary Kim Jung-eun has expressed a strong sense of crisis, calling Korona-ka "a great upheaval since the founding of the country."

Under such circumstances, why does North Korea continue to launch?

About this, Professor Zaki said, "We are conducting three missile launch experiments on the day when we announced that the first corona-infected person appeared on May 12. The infection of the new corona was in a very serious situation. Even so, the intention to continue weapons development as a priority was clearly shown. " I am analyzing.

Launch missiles with different ranges one after another

The features of this launch are the ballistic missile estimated to be an ICBM = intercontinental ballistic missile with a flight distance of about 360 km and an altitude of about 540 km, and a short-range ballistic missile that seems to have flown 760 km at an altitude of about 60 km. It was the launch of missiles one after another (announced by the Korean Army).

Regarding this, Professor Zaki said, "It is unusual for North Korea to launch three different missiles at the same time. Of course, considering the possibility of an emergency in the future, it is not enough for North Korea to launch the same missile. We have to think about developing, mass-producing, deploying, and training new missiles. In that sense, we have shown the diversification of weapons. "

Ukrainian situation boosts North Korea?

Immediately after Russia's military invasion of Ukraine began in February, Putin said, "Modern Russia is one of the strongest nuclear powers even after the collapse of the Soviet Union." Is flaunting.

Regarding the impact of Russia's military invasion on North Korea's nuclear development There is no doubt that we will go. I think we are being pushed back. We have to put more emphasis on the idea that if we have a nuclear weapon, we will not be attacked by the United States. "

Is the nuclear test judged based on the relationship with China?

Furthermore, regarding the possibility that North Korea will undertake a seventh nuclear test, "China is strongly opposed to North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons and nuclear tests. In 2017, when the last nuclear test was conducted. At that time, China-North Korea relations had deteriorated. That is why it can be said that a nuclear test was possible. Therefore, North Korea decided whether to break the restored China-North Korea relations and step into a nuclear test. It will be a judgment whether to emphasize the relationship with North Korea, or whether strengthening deterrence and military power will surpass it. " Was shown.

* Zaki is "Standing Saki"