By Ron Chen, Correspondent ASEAN Region

The news of a North Korean test missile launch has got the analyst community reacting.

Associate Analyst at GlobalData William Davies offers his view: “North Korea’s missile tests are no doubt violating international treaties and will alarm regional adversaries, including Japan and South Korea. While the degree of sophistication is unknown, the fact that the latest missile was submarine launched will be of particular concern to South Korea, Japan and the US, and these countries will likely renew non-proliferation efforts.

“North Korea’s interest in submarine missile launches will have been spurred by the launch last month of South Korea’s first Dosan Ahn Changho-class ballistic missile submarine, and will likely be followed by an increase in missile defense spending in the region.

“North Korea’s refusal to give up its nuclear weapons has been a sticking point in ongoing talks, with the US resisting lifting sanctions unless the state commits to de-nuclearization. South Korea has modernized its own military significantly in recent years and is in the process of acquiring both F-35s and KDDX Destroyers. South Korea’s defense budget is set to rise to over US$60bn, according to GlobalData, driven, in large, because of the increasing militarization of North Korea.”