Kim may be trying to pacify some of the old-guard over there in N Korea ... it also keeps the ‘troops’ busy and not thinking about a coup ...
It’s actually for perfecting trajectory (varied), various apogees and velocities and thwarting detection by ROK and USFK defenses, working up to potential thwart THAAD. Japan Defense White Paper released yesterday showed miniaturizing nukes now accomplished. KN-23 or Islander variations solid fuel. Working this with TEL mobile launch capability from various launch coordinates around NK and just about every professional I’ve read of or talked to in the kill chain of command does not dismiss these as kids play (Japan states again today they are definite UN resolution violations) would not matter which Administration is in office. It’s not good any way you cut it. Why downplay what he’s doing? He already “promised” in Panmunjom he would cease SRBMs after 20 Aug conclusion of bilat drills. So this is already a broken promise. Yet his media also threatened massive USFK Camp Humphreys in so many words the other day. Cannot rationalize this any further, this pipsqueak fat piece of shit with a bad haircut anymore.
“Old guard” largely executed, or retired, or purged over the last 7 years by Fat Kim. General staff and officers corps now generally solidly loyal and his 100%. He runs the show. Little internal evidence to the contrary
That is what I think too. If he acts too weak, the old guard take him out. If he fires a few short/medium range missiles every that keeps the peace at home. Since there is a lack of US response, I wonder if the launches were agreed upon beforehand.
Chi coms causing trouble.