National Security & Defense

Some conservative media sources in South Korea are trying to say it's sabre rattling and intended to make an impression on Kim Jong Un and Putin. Channel A News is part of the Dong A Ilbo media group, which is pretty conservative, is portraying this as a warning to Kim. Sometimes the Channel A broadcasts border on propaganda or psychological operations with respect to North Korea.

One USAF source said "these tests," are scheduled years in advance. I would have preferred it, if he said "this test," but I think it's evident that periodically they need to go through the testing and exercise process and it takes some time to get ready.