VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

North Korea confirmed on Monday (31/1) that they tested their intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), Hwasong-12 on Sunday (30/1). Therefore, Pyongyang had made a record of seven missile launches in just a month -January 2022. This was the biggest missile launch since 2017 and caused concern among the international communities, mainly the US, South Korea, Japan, and other countries, including the United Nations.

This concern was not baseless. With their full power, this missile can fly across thousands of miles, reaching beyond South Korea and Japan, even to Guam that belongs to the US military base. Therefore, the US - supported by England and France - had requested the UN Security Council to have a closed meeting this Thursday (03/02) to discuss the IRBM launch by North Korea.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres on Tuesday (1/2) condemned the launch and urged North Korea to stop taking the counter-productive act further. According to a UN spokesperson, Farhan Haq, the act by Pyongyang violated the moratorium announced by the country in 2018 about similar launchings and a resolution of the UN Security Council.

Since 2006, North Korea has been given sanction by the UN, which was strengthened by the Security Council for years in a bid to target the funding of Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. But why does North Korea still dare to continue their missile test?

According to Prof. Kim Dong Yup –a former South Korean Navy Commander - the launch by North Korea was a show that the country is moving fast to an effective and total nuclear defense capability. After the missile tests on January 5 and 10, Pyongyang claimed to successfully test hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) and maneuverable reentry vehicle (MARV).

He affirmed that North Korea is developing a technology that can defeat the expensive and complex missile defense system of the US and Japan in the Korean Peninsula. However, the main target of North Korea is not oriented to other countries, but to their own defense.

We can only hope that this view is right and in line with what is planned by North Korea. Otherwise, the crisis in the Korean Peninsula can get worse.

Peace is always beautiful. Although not without conflict, peace is an ability to handle a conflict in a peaceful way.