The United States has numerous military bases and about 54,000 military personnel stationed in Japan, the legacy of its post-war security alliance with the country. But they can be produced much more cheaply than the Rodong, Lewis said, meaning that North Korea could fire them with more abandon. Furthermore, the Osan airbase is less than 300 miles from the missile launch site in North Korea — another apparent message to Pyongyang’s enemies. The launches coincided with joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, drills that take place every year and which North Korea views as preparation for an invasion. [Did North Korea just test missiles capable of hitting the U.S.?

Source: Washington Post March 07, 2017 01:02 UTC