Pressuring the U.S.

[Anchor Lead]

Analysts say that North Korea is stepping up its threat to fire intercontinental ballistic missiles in a bid to pressure the incoming U.S. administration. Here’s the story.

[Pkg]

North Korea's message that it can fire intercontinental ballistic missiles at any time should Kim Jong-un make a decision directly targets the incoming U.S. administration of Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20. In response to Trump's recent remarks downplaying Pyongyang's threat that it can fire ICBMs, Pyongyang stressed that it could soon strike the U.S. mainland with its nuclear weapons. Observers say that Pyongyang's message is aimed at making the Trump administration recognize North Korea as a nuclear power and persuade it to resume dialogue. Pyongyang is also seen as trying to ease the sanctions and hard-line policies of the Obama administration. Some also say that the North is trying to find an excuse to pass the blame to South Korea and the U.S. ahead of test launching its ICBMs. Pyongyang has blasted the joint South Korea-U.S. Key Resolve military exercise slated for late February as an act of war preparation, and said that the development of ICBMs is part of the North's efforts to bolster its self-defense capabilities.