Article link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/17/north-korea-fired-ballistic-missiles-from-train-amid-rising-tensions-with-the-south
On Wednesday September 15th North Korea successfully launched ballistic missiles from a railway train after rising tensions with the south. Two missless were transported along the mountainous central North Korean railway and eventually launched into the air to successfully strike a sea target eight hundred kilometers away. Not only did North Korea launch the two ballistic missiles but they also launched two test cruise missiles that can strike targets up to one thousand five hundred kilometers away which they intend to make nuclear capable.
By launching these missiles by train North Korea has added yet another way to threaten warfare on enemy countries including Japan and South Korea. North Korea hopes to broaden and build up their weapon system and apply pressure to the United States in hopes to bring relief to the economic sanctions. This isn’t a big threat to the United States directly because the missiles cannot reach the U.S. but they threaten the United States in a way because the missiles can reach our allies South Korea and Japan. The best thing that the United States can do is de-escalate the situation through China because North Korea and China are allies and the United States control a lot of China’s economy. Since North Korea is so small and there is not a whole lot of room for the railways, if there was an actual threat the railways would be quickly destroyed.
Kim Jong un is the head of government in North Korea as a Dictator. He is and has been threatening neighboring countries like Japan and South Korea which is somewhat why Japan has not recognized them which makes them a partially recognized state. Although North Korea is recognized by some members of the UN they are not recognized by France, Japan, and South Korea. The United States is involved by being allies with Japan and South Korea. International relations is also involved with the United States because Kim Jong Un said he will continue to grow his missile power and apply pressure on the United States until there is relief from economic sanctions.