North Korea's Intensive Missile Launches: Experts Say It Consolidates Nuclear Status Amidst Rising Global Tensions
North Korea is accelerating its weapons development and consolidating its status as a nuclear power amidst rising global tensions and the weakening of international norms. Analysts attribute this to a calculated strategy to exploit geopolitical shifts and advance military capabilities, especially with deepening ties to Russia.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 12:31
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 13:01 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 02:01 (12h 59m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Seoul, 27th, comprehensive foreign report) Analysts point out that amidst the ongoing Middle East war, North Korea is accelerating its pace of weapons development and consolidating its status as a nuclear weapons state under a global situation where international norms are gradually losing effect.
According to AFP statistics, since the United States and Israel jointly launched attacks on Iran at the end of February, North Korea has conducted 5 missile tests, 4 of which occurred in April, setting a new monthly record since January 2024.
Prior to this, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised to strengthen nuclear capabilities. At the same time, Pyongyang has benefited from deepening ties with Russia and has intensified verbal attacks on the U.S. ally South Korea.
Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at Kyungnam University in South Korea, pointed out that these missile tests "seem to be part of a sophisticated strategy" aimed at responding to the changing power dynamics among the United States, Russia, and China, while advancing military escalation.
He said: "The current global security landscape has transformed into a 'lawless zone' where existing international norms are no longer effective."
"North Korea is using this vacuum... to complete its nuclear arsenal build-up."
Pyongyang condemned the U.S. attack on Iran as "gangster-like" behavior, but it is generally believed that North Korea has not provided weapons to Tehran and has deliberately avoided direct criticism of U.S. President Trump.
Trump is expected to attend a summit in China next month, and it is speculated that Trump may meet with Kim Jong Un then.
Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP: "Since this summit may bring the North Korean issue back into focus, Pyongyang may take the opportunity to strengthen its message as an irreversible nuclear weapons state."
However, North Korea also hopes to continue sending the signal that "its deterrence posture is fundamentally different from Iran's."
● Nuclear Options
This wave of intensive missile tests began after North Korea's Workers' Party Congress in February. Hong Min stated that this shows North Korea's desire to "achieve significant results in weapon capabilities ahead of schedule."
These tests included sanctioned ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and cluster munitions.
Analysts said these actions demonstrate a certain degree of technological advancement and improved proficiency in dual-use nuclear and conventional weapon systems.
Lim Eul-chul pointed out that this includes North Korea's ability to mount miniaturized nuclear warheads and its "saturation attack" capability, which can overwhelm enemy interception networks through massive launches.
He said that Pyongyang might continue ballistic missile tests, shifting from pure weapon development to "normalization of nuclear activities." "Pyongyang believes that with the U.S. preoccupied with the Middle East situation, it is the best time for North Korea to accelerate offensive deterrence and parallel development of nuclear and conventional forces."
● Deepening Ties with Russia
These launches also highlight North Korea's intention to demonstrate Russia's support for Pyongyang; in return, Pyongyang has sent thousands of soldiers to assist Russian forces in the war against Ukraine, thereby receiving important economic and technical assistance from Russia.
Lim Eul-chul said: "This is (North Korea) trying to prove that under pressure from the United States and China, they still have a strong Russian ally, which effectively renders sanctions ineffective."
However, Fyodor Tertitskiy, a Russian scholar on North Korea at Korea University in Seoul, believes that this "friendship" may not last much longer after the end of the Ukraine war, because the relationship is "almost entirely driven by this invasion."
He said: "(Russian President) Vladimir Putin wants ammunition, and for him, everything else is secondary."
Reuters today quoted North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) as reporting that Kim Jong Un stated North Korea would continue to support Russia's policies and discussed the international political situation with Russia's Minister of Defense.
Kim Jong Un said: "The North Korean government will continue to fully support Russia's policy of defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests." (Compiler: Liu Wen-Yu) 1150427
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(Central News Agency, Seoul, 27th, comprehensive foreign report) Analysts point out that amidst the ongoing Middle East war, North Korea is accelerating its pace of weapons development and consolidating its status as a nuclear weapons state under a global situation where international norms are gradually losing effect.
According to AFP statistics, since the United States and Israel jointly launched attacks on Iran at the end of February, North Korea has conducted 5 missile tests, 4 of which occurred in April, setting a new monthly record since January 2024.
Prior to this, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised to strengthen nuclear capabilities. At the same time, Pyongyang has benefited from deepening ties with Russia and has intensified verbal attacks on the U.S. ally South Korea.
Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at Kyungnam University in South Korea, pointed out that these missile tests "seem to be part of a sophisticated strategy" aimed at responding to the changing power dynamics among the United States, Russia, and China, while advancing military escalation.
He said: "The current global security landscape has transformed into a 'lawless zone' where existing international norms are no longer effective."
"North Korea is using this vacuum... to complete its nuclear arsenal build-up."
Pyongyang condemned the U.S. attack on Iran as "gangster-like" behavior, but it is generally believed that North Korea has not provided weapons to Tehran and has deliberately avoided direct criticism of U.S. President Trump.
Trump is expected to attend a summit in China next month, and it is speculated that Trump may meet with Kim Jong Un then.
Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP: "Since this summit may bring the North Korean issue back into focus, Pyongyang may take the opportunity to strengthen its message as an irreversible nuclear weapons state."
However, North Korea also hopes to continue sending the signal that "its deterrence posture is fundamentally different from Iran's."
● Nuclear Options
This wave of intensive missile tests began after North Korea's Workers' Party Congress in February. Hong Min stated that this shows North Korea's desire to "achieve significant results in weapon capabilities ahead of schedule."
These tests included sanctioned ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and cluster munitions.
Analysts said these actions demonstrate a certain degree of technological advancement and improved proficiency in dual-use nuclear and conventional weapon systems.
Lim Eul-chul pointed out that this includes North Korea's ability to mount miniaturized nuclear warheads and its "saturation attack" capability, which can overwhelm enemy interception networks through massive launches.
He said that Pyongyang might continue ballistic missile tests, shifting from pure weapon development to "normalization of nuclear activities." "Pyongyang believes that with the U.S. preoccupied with the Middle East situation, it is the best time for North Korea to accelerate offensive deterrence and parallel development of nuclear and conventional forces."
● Deepening Ties with Russia
These launches also highlight North Korea's intention to demonstrate Russia's support for Pyongyang; in return, Pyongyang has sent thousands of soldiers to assist Russian forces in the war against Ukraine, thereby receiving important economic and technical assistance from Russia.
Lim Eul-chul said: "This is (North Korea) trying to prove that under pressure from the United States and China, they still have a strong Russian ally, which effectively renders sanctions ineffective."
However, Fyodor Tertitskiy, a Russian scholar on North Korea at Korea University in Seoul, believes that this "friendship" may not last much longer after the end of the Ukraine war, because the relationship is "almost entirely driven by this invasion."
He said: "(Russian President) Vladimir Putin wants ammunition, and for him, everything else is secondary."
Reuters today quoted North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) as reporting that Kim Jong Un stated North Korea would continue to support Russia's policies and discussed the international political situation with Russia's Minister of Defense.
Kim Jong Un said: "The North Korean government will continue to fully support Russia's policy of defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests." (Compiler: Liu Wen-Yu) 1150427
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a power to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.