I suspect the series of missile shot failures of the norks had something to do with American techniques. Our ongoing “discussions” with China needed a demonstration that our antipathy to Norkea has a real and immediate basis and we needed to offhandedly show that we can defend against those things, too. I believe this all to be facets of our ongoing contest with China over Norkea.
China and North Korea are one and the same. They have some sort of mutual defense treaty. Nork is acting at China’s behest.