WASHINGTON — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may be testing the limits of US President Donald Trump's tolerance for military provocations, according to an analysis released Tuesday by a US research institute, as Pyongyang has stepped up missile launches during Trump's second term.
According to the analysis, the number of North Korean missile launches has risen over that period, a sign that Pyongyang is intensifying weapons testing and military displays.
Analysts have long viewed North Korean missile launches as both technical and political tools, used to apply pressure and gain negotiating leverage. The uptick in launches during Trump's second term is seen as a notable development at a time when US-North Korea relations have yet to see a breakthrough.
The analysis did not specify the number of launches or the timing of each, but stressed that the upward trend is a signal worth watching in the period ahead.
