North Korea: State media reports successful long-range missile tests Sept. 11-12

Event

North Korean state media has reported successful tests of long-range missile systems Sept. 11-12. According to the early Sept. 13 statement, the projectiles traveled 1,500 km (932 miles) and landed within North Korean territorial waters. North Korean media did not immediately provide details on the specific weapons testing sites. There have been no reports of damage, injuries, or transport disruptions following the launches.

Context

If the reported distance of the launches is accurate, the Sept. 11-12 missile tests are the longest-range weapons tests conducted by North Korean forces since 2017. The tests will at least marginally increase regional tensions. While overall tensions between North Korea and the US, along with South Korea, have eased significantly since early 2018, the fundamental dynamics of the standoff on the Korean Peninsula remain largely unaltered. North Korea controls an arsenal of nuclear devices and long-range missiles, despite the UN sanctions against the weapons programs. Pyongyang has previously stated it will only give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for concrete moves to decrease perceived US threats against North Korea. Both sides are highly likely to avoid any actions that could escalate into a full-scale conflict.