North Korea ‘anxious and leery’ as they spark WW3 fears with missile test launch

North Korea's drive to advance their ballistic missiles comes after the country's "anxiety" over the South's decision to ramp up its weapons, analysts claim.

The remarks come after North Korea test launched a new submarine ballistic missile on Tuesday, October 19 which has since sparked concerns over further conflict.

The Academy of Defence Science said that the new weapon is armed with advanced control guidance technologies, including lateral manoeuvres and glide jump manoeuvres.

Analysts believe that the drive is set to help the regime survival, boost the military edge and support negotiation leverage over future talks.

Seoul, Washington and Tokyo have recently increased their engagement in a bid to encourage Pyongyang to return to dialogue through humanitarian aid, reports Yonhap News Agency.

On Tuesday, China announced that it had test-launched the world's most powerful and high-tech rocket engine.

They also announced the countries testing of hypersonic missiles which can carry nuclear weapons at speeds of up to 21,000mph.

Nam Chang-hee, professor of international politics at Inha University, said: "North Korea seems to be increasingly anxious and leery, as the South has been pushing for conventional yet formidable weaponry with the destructive power approximating that of nuclear arms, which raises uncertainty over the North's pursuit of a military balance or superiority."

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He added: "A military inferiority that could follow the erosion of the North's military edge could undermine the legitimacy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"The North could, in fact, feel the security threat."

The professor believes that their latest SLBM launch may have been intended to push the South and the U.S. to propose more concrete incentives to help facilitate the North's return to dialogue.

"The North might have intended to strengthen its bargaining power to secure concessions, such as sanctions relief," professor Nam added.

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Patrick M. Cronin, chair for Asia-Pacific Security, claimed that King Jong-un is prompted by "fear and security" but also a "thirst for power and legitimacy."

"I think the SLBM is specifically a second strike deterrent against regime change," he said.

Some analysts believe that the North's pursuit of the SLBM program could be part of its wider strategy to keep American forces at bay.

They have also predicted that it may have been launched to undermine the U.S. nuclear umbrella and eventually separate the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

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