The South Korean military says North Korea fired another missile on Sunday, why?

The South Korean military says North Korea fired another missile on Sunday. With this, the country conducted a missile test for the seventh time this month. A statement from the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul today said North Korea had fired  missiles at the East Sea (Sea of ​​Japan). However, they could not identify the type of missile.

 Japan's Coast Guard says North Korea may have fired a ballistic missile. Earlier, Pyongyang tested two missiles last week. They have conducted a total of seven tests this month. The country said the missiles fired on January 5 and 11 were hypersonic. This is one of the few North Korean missile tests in a month. Earlier, the country conducted the highest missile test in a month in 2019. Pyongyang conducted a series of missile tests after talks between the country's leader Kim Jong-un and then-US President Donald Trump broke down. North Korea has suspended tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons since 2016. They suspended missile tests in the wake of three high-level diplomatic meetings with then-US President Donald Trump and other top leaders. But this month, the North Korean government signaled it would resume missile tests. The country blames the hostile US policy for this.

At a time when North Korea is conducting a series of missile tests, a number of important regional events are about to unfold. Kim's close ally China is set to host the Winter Olympics next month. South Korea is set to hold presidential elections in March. North Korea is preparing to celebrate the 70th birth anniversary of the late leader Kim Jong-il in February and the 110th birth anniversary of the country's founder Kim Losing in April.

North Korea is in an economic crisis due to international sanctions and a self-imposed embargo. According to the international media, the prices of goods and the number of hungry people are increasing. Recently, Pyongyang has resumed cross-border trade with neighboring China.

China and Russia have blocked a move by the United Nations Security Council to impose new sanctions on North Korea over a recent missile test. North Korea has been conducting a series of missile tests this month. This has caused some concern in the forehead of Japan. However, this time these tests are different from August 2017. At that time, the Japanese were awakened by the sound of a siren. Because, without warning, North Korea fired intercontinental ballistic missiles into the Pacific Ocean over Japan. To the Japanese, it was an extreme audacity. But this time, North Korea's missiles are short-range. These are falling far away from the Japanese coast at sea. It may seem that Kim Jong-un is pulling the strings for now. However, if his wishes are not fulfilled, this reins may become untidy. Now the question is what Kim Jong-un wants. Military analysts say recent missile launches mean North Korea is rapidly moving toward a full and effective nuclear deterrent. Professor Kim Dong-yup, a former naval commander in South Korea, said: From my point of view, this is exactly what was supposed to happen. We are surprised because we have downplayed North Korea's technology and assumed the country is going through a crisis. In fact, North Korea is increasing its military capabilities faster than we thought.