North Korea's dictator Kim Jong Un appears to be nervous, following the stunning U.S. military operation on Saturday that captured former Venezuelan "president" (read: dictator, drug lord) Nicolás Maduro.
Or is he?
As North Korean media reported on Monday, Kim, the Hermit Kingdom dictator — hilariously dubbed "Little Rocket Man" by President Donald Trump during his first term — observed test flights of hypersonic missiles and emphasized the need to strengthen the country’s nuclear war deterrent.
FAFO?
While Kim has puffed out his chest and made more ridiculous bluffs than most of us can remember throughout his vice-like grip on the Hermit Kingdom, surely he's not insane enough to think he could win a nuclear war with the United States, right? Dunno. But I do know that if he were foolish enough to try, North Korea would likely be reduced to a smoldering parking lot if necessary.
Anyway, North Korea announced its latest missile drill just a day after neighboring countries reported multiple ballistic launches and accused Pyongyang of deliberate provocations. (So what's new?)
The timing was hardly a surprise.
The tests took place just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left for a summit in China with President Xi Jinping.
Here's more:
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Sunday’s tests involving a hypersonic weapon system were meant to examine its readiness, enhance missile troops’ firepower operational skills and evaluate operational capabilities of the country’s war deterrent.
The possession of a functioning hypersonic weapon would give North Korea an ability to penetrate the U.S. and South Korea’s missile defense shields. In past years, North Korea has performed a series of tests to acquire it, but many foreign experts question whether the tested missiles have achieved their desired speed and maneuverability during flights.
In recent weeks, North Korea test-fired what it called long-range strategic cruise missiles and new anti-air missiles and released photos showing apparent progress in the construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine.
According to the KCNA, Kim said of the tests (emphasis, mine):
Through today’s launching drill, we can confirm that a very important technology task for national defense has been carried out. We must continuously upgrade the military means, especially offensive weapon systems.
As I suggested at the top, surely "Little Rocket Man" isn't crazy enough to start a nuclear war with the United States. I mean, he really isn't, right?
MORE KIM NONSENSE: North Korea's New Nuke Sub: Hull of Fame or Another Fizzle?
The Situation in South Korea Continues to Deteriorate, Implications for US National Security
The reality — in my not-so-humble opinion, that is — is that Kim is merely puffing out his little communist chest again, just to remind South Korea and its president that he — "Little Rocket Man" — is still the Chinese dictator's favorite Korean. But is he, actually? Is it possible that China wishes its misbehaving stepchild would sometimes knock off the nonsense before it goes too far?
North Korea’s continuing nuclear ambitions were expected to be on the table when Lee and Xi sat down for their summit on Monday, an unavoidable topic given Kim's latest round of missile theater.
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