One medium-range ballistic missile that North Korea fired on February 12 is shaking the political situation in Northeast Asia. North Korea seems to have attempted to influence the Asia policies of the newly launched Donald Trump administration.

This day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced, "At around 7:55 a.m. North Korea fired a ballistic missile from Banghyon in North Pyongan Province, and the estimated flight distance of the missile is over 500 kilometers." Based on the altitude and flight distance, the Joint Chiefs of Staff believes the North fired an improved Musudan missile and not an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Although it was a medium-range missile, the effect was immediate. President Trump held an emergency joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, currently visiting the U.S. Prime Minister Abe condemned the latest act saying, "North Korea's missile launch is absolutely intolerable," and President Trump said that he supported Japan's position 100%.
The latest missile launch is North Korea's first provocation since the Trump administration entered office, so it was a highly "political act" aimed at the U.S. The fact that the North fired the missile during a U.S.-Japan summit and at a time shortly before a meeting of the G20 foreign ministers, which begins on February 16, also reveals such intentions. It may not be as provocative as a direct threat to the U.S., such as the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, but by opting to engage in provocation that clearly violates the UN Security Council resolution, Pyongyang is sending a message that it will not abandon its nuclear and missile program and is forcing the U.S. to make a decision.

Due to the latest launch, the Trump administration may be able to define more clearly its North Korea policy.

In the past, Trump's policies in Asia were focused on China. He tried to maintain Barack Obama's stance in Asia, but greatly strengthened its pressure on China and tried to put more of that responsibility in the hands of its allies, South Korea and Japan. This is why President Trump and cabinet members stressed cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan and the strengthening of the ROK-US alliance and the US-Japan alliance.

In particular, President Trump strongly raised an issue with China's responsibility concerning North Korea's nuclear program and is using North Korea's nuclear and missile threats as an excuse to strengthen security cooperation with South Korea and Japan. This is why some experts argue that Trump is taking advantage of North Korea to pressure China instead of seeking a serious solution to the North Korean issue.

North Korea firing a missile in this situation will provide an opportunity to check President Trump's views on North Korea. The key is whether Trump will roll up his sleeves and dive into the North Korean nuclear issue or whether he will take advantage of it to pressure China. North Korea has posed a very important question at President Trump in a very sensitive time with provocation in the form of a medium-range missile launch.