An International affairs expert says the threat to the United States from North Korea is growing after the country fired a record number of 23 missiles earlier this week.
International affairs expert Benoit Hardy-Chartrand told AM Kim Jong-Un's regime is attempting "to ramp up tensions and ramp up the pressure as well on the United States and on South Korea and also on Japan of course"
Hard-Chartrand said North Korea has been trying for a number of years to lift sanctions weighing on its regime.
"Now of course you might think this kind of behaviour is not going to lead the United State to lift the sanctions, but what North Korea is likely trying to do is to put itself in a position of power, to increase its arsenal, increase its bargaining position in case that when eventually negotiations are again underway."
The expert told AM it isn't likely that the United States and North Korea will meet in the near future but instead in the next few years when North Korea will be in a better position to bargain.
"[They] will have actually something to give away in return for a lifting of the sanctions."
Hard-Chartrand told AM the type of the most recent missile launched could have the potential to reach the United States but that all depends on the perimeter of the launch.
"It could reach all the way to the eastern United States, that's obviously a huge threat to the United States because previously the missiles North Korea were able to launch were only really a threat to this region, to the Indopacific region, to east Asia."
He added with North Korea now reportedly able to reach the United States with its missiles "it changes the game".
"The United States has known for a few years that North Korea have that capability, but are continuing to test these missiles from North Korea really reinforces for the United States the urgency of the North Korea threat."
Watch the full interview above.
