An ex-CIA official believes, there's nothing more to North Korea's latest missile test.... adding that the regime could fire a few more if the latest launch was a failure.
Oh Jung-hee tells us more.
The former CIA Assistant Director has downplayed concerns over North Korea's firing of short range missiles earlier this month.
Andrew Kim said... the regime did not necessarily shoot them to shake up nuclear talks but rather (quote)"just to test them," and added the regime could launch more in the future.

"When talks are suspended, the North feels the need to test things they've not been able to because they can't when talks resume. If the missile launch was a failure, they'd do it once or twice more. And when they're done with that, they'd come back to the table."

His comments came at an international forum this week hosted by Seoul's state-run Institute for National Security Strategy, which is under the nation's intelligence agency.
Former intelligence officials from 16 countries gathered at the event.
They assessed that North Korea's missile launch this month was a calculated move... that doesn't violate UN Security Council resolutions and leaves the door open for dialogue.

On recent discussions of humanitarian aid to the North, Andrew Kim said providing aid would be a good way to show the U.S. is willing to improve relations with Pyeongyang.

The former CIA official called on the regime to come out for frequent dialogue.
He stressed... communication is the most important thing when it comes to becoming friends,... but communicating with North Korea is not easy.

"North Korea communicates only when it wants to, and avoids it when it doesn't want to. I've told North Korean officials that we should talk more often. It's necessary to communicate and grow our understanding of each other. The topics don't have to be heavy."

The U.S. isn't even aware of who is now U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo's North Korean counterpart... and will only find out once Pyeongyang comes back to dialogue, he says.
In mid-April, the North changed the head of its United Front Department, which used to be the position held by Kim Yong-chol, the regime's top nuclear negotiator.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.