‘Show of force’: are North Korea’s missile tests a sign it has given up on diplomacy with US?

North Korea’s latest missile tests could be a bid to coincide with joint drills in the region between China and Russia, while also a sign that Pyongyang sees no alternative in diplomatic talks with the United States but to press on with developing its nuclear and conventional arsenal.

Observers also warn that the recent launches are a show of force to America that the North would target its assets and strategic interests in the region, while also fulfilling the deployment of one of several hi-tech weapons pledged by its leader.

Pyongyang on Thursday announced it had successfully test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile designed to carry an exceptionally large warhead, further escalating tensions ahead of the US presidential election.

The missile, named the Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5, was tested on Wednesday, carrying a 4.5-tonne conventional warhead, according to Pyongyang’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The test-fire was “aimed at verifying the accuracy of hit at medium range of 320km and explosive power of the super-large warhead with a missile loaded with such a warhead”, the KCNA said.