Expert discussion on North Korea's continued military provocations, impact on regional security

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring you today's most pressing issues from across the globe, I'm Kim Mok-yeon.

North Korea continues with its provocative military actions, launching another short-range ballistic missile this week.

The launch, which came Tuesday, was the second provocation of the regime this year and comes just eight days since its last launch.

Experts are closely analyzing the regime's strategic motives, its involvement in the Ukraine war, and its potential engagement with the upcoming Trump administration in the U.S.

As tensions rise, key questions surround how South Korea, the U.S., and the international community should respond to safeguard security and stability in the region.

For a deeper analysis into this, we connect to Go Myong-hyun, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy. Welcome.

Also joining us is Evans Revere, Former Acting Assistant Secretary of State and Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Program at Brookings. Great to have you with us.

1. (Go) So Dr. Go, just yesterday, North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles ahead of Trump's inauguration. The last time it held a hypersonic missile test, I recall you told us it was more about domestic interests. What about this time? Do you think the provocations seek to send a message?

2. (Revere) In a recent statement, North Korea declared it would pursue the "toughest" counteraction strategy toward the U.S., especially in response to the growing military bloc with South Korea and Japan. What kind of strategy could we expect from N. Korea during the second Trump term?

3. (Go) How about you? With the possibility of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump seeking renewed engagement with Kim Jong-un in his second term, what kind of diplomatic approaches do you think could emerge, and what challenges might arise in any future negotiations?

4. (Go) Given North Korea's aggressive rhetoric and military actions, what steps should South Korea and the international community take to ensure that any future nuclear negotiations avoid sidelining South Korean interests?

5. (Revere) Moving on to the situation in Ukraine, President Zelenskyy recently emphasized that Russia is heavily reliant on North Korea's military support. How do you view North Korea's involvement in the Ukraine conflict?

6. (Revere) Ukraine has proposed a prisoner exchange involving North Korean soldiers captured in the conflict. The soldiers say they weren't told ahead that they would be participating in the war. What implications could this have for North Korea's internal propaganda?

7. (Go) How do you expect North Korea to respond to the news of its soldiers being captured and publicly displayed by Ukraine, and do you think they would accept the offer?

8. (Revere) Reports indicate that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is considering a visit to Russia this spring. How might this visit strengthen North Korea's strategic ties with Russia, and what impact could it have on regional dynamics, particularly with South Korea and the U.S.?

9. (Go) North Korea's military strength has been ranked 34th globally, with notable advancements in areas like submarine and fighter fleet strength. How do these rankings reflect North Korea's military strategy and its position in regional security?

10. (Revere) So we are aware that the regime wants to be recognized as a nuclear-armed state. Do you think this is the main reason for the regime's efforts to develop both nuclear and conventional military capabilities? What can the international community do to maintain non-proliferation efforts?