The Japanese government believes that Friday's firing of at least one ballistic missile by North Korea, the third such occasion this year, might be part of diplomatic maneuvering as well as technological development. It is accelerating efforts to analyze Pyongyang's intentions and other matters.
Following North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launches, the U.S. government on Wednesday designated a total of eight entities and individuals linked to the development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles as targets of sanctions. They include six North Korean nationals.
According to North Korea's official Central News Agency, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson issued a statement Friday morning, saying, "If the U.S. adopts such a confrontational stance, the DPRK will be forced to take stronger and certain reaction to it." A source close to the Japanese Foreign Ministry said that the latest missile launch is likely intended to express opposition to the United States.
