From images provided by his state channel North Koreabased on the big parade that took place in Pyongyang on Wednesday evening it became known that the country’s arsenal has been strengthened and now has 10-12 intercontinental ballistic missiles.

This fact is beginning to cause concern in the US, as the country’s defenses may not be able to shoot them down in the event of an attack. Hwasong-17s are theoretically capable of reaching Washington. Although the missiles have not been tested, so it is not entirely clear whether they can accurately hit a target at such a long distance, the US anti-missile system is also “immature”, as it was tested only once, in which it failed. .

President Joe Biden has been perfectly moderate on North Korea so far, but he doesn’t have many options. The country’s leadership has repeatedly refused invitations to American officials to meet anywhere to discuss common problems. At the same time, in recent years, the US has strengthened its relationship with Japan and South Korea, which has been strongly condemned by North Korea. And joint military exercises between the US and South Korea itself Kim Chen In described them as “the cause of the war”. In response to these exercises, North Korea fired the largest number of test missiles in its history last year. The North Korean leader’s message is clear: no matter how hard the US insists to the contrary, we will strengthen our nuclear arsenal.

Existing problem

For many analysts, the missiles on display at Wednesday’s parade, along with some of the ground-based launchers that North Korea is seeking to develop, are likely replicas or non-functioning prototypes. However, according to them, North Korea is presenting systems that it intends to build in the future in its parades, so the US should not relax. “Whether we like it or not, North Korea is the third threat of nuclear war for the United States, which will have to be dealt with in the same way that we plan to deal with Russia and China.” — Ankit Panda, Carnegie Endowment for International Affairs. guy, said Politico. To the whole world.

How the American leadership will react is still unknown. But the fact remains that North Korea is now bragging about its nuclear weapons literally on the air.