North Korea’s missile tests are irking China

North Korea has been showing off its military capabilities lately. Only a month ago they tested a solid-fuel rocket that is supposedly part of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the United States. The most recent test was conducted on Monday, 7.36 am local time, the missiles were launched from Tongchang County in North Pyongan province. Three of the four missiles that were fired landed in the sea well within Japan’s economic zone.

This launch seems to have a purpose other than the obvious as it was timed to coincide with several important events in the region. The testing coincided with the opening of China’s National People’s Congress, a major political event in China as well as the joint military exercise between US and South Korea. North Korean head of state Kim Jong-un seems to be sending several messages with one test.

The testing occurred right after the assassination of Kim Jong Nam, Kim Jong-un’s half brother who was under Chinese protection. The fact that the missiles landed in Japanese water’s can be construed as a message to Japan’s ally the US. But considering that China seems to be the only real ally that North Korea has, this kind of stunt might not be good for Kim Jong-un’s future.

China is getting frustrated with North Korea’s attitude and the destabilizing economic problems. The biggest source of China’s displeasure however is North Korea’s nuclear program. The US is always hovering nearby because of North Korea’s nuclear antics and as far as China is concerned, US presence is disruptive to its plans. China has already made its displeasure known by stopping coal imports from North Korea till the end of 2017.

(Reporting and Writing by Ananya Dutta; Editing by Zainab Asif)