After working-level nuclear talks between North Korea and the U.S. fell apart in Sweden last weekend, the North has aired a lengthy documentary highlighting the regime's various ICBM launches over the past couple of years.
Experts say the decision to broadcast the film could be a subtle message to the United States to get serious about its negotiations with the regime.
Lee Min-sun reports. Only a few days after working-level talks between North Korea and the United States collapsed in Stockholm, North Korea has broadcast a documentary showing the wide range of its intercontinental ballistic missile launches since 2017.
North Korea's state-run Korean Central TV aired the 100 minute-long documentary on Tuesday showcasing the regime's achievements toward self-reliance, including in terms of defense.
The second half of the film focuses on showcasing various ICBM launches conducted in 2017 before North Korea declared a moratorium on testing.
The section on the regime's defense industry includes all the weapons and missiles tested under Kim Jong-un's rule, including the launch of Hwasong 15, the regime's last ICBM launch in November 2017.
This comes as the North Korean leader has been emphasizing the importance of self-reliance in a number of areas.
Speaking during a tour of military-run farms in his first public appearance in almost a month, Kim emphasized the importance of developing the North's agricultural sector to overcome the country's food supply issues.
"The emphasis on self-reliance means Kim thinks the North should stand on its own economic strength, even if negotiations with the U.S. break down. It seems the regime is emphasizing this issue because the recent working-level talks in Stockholm broke down."
Some experts also believe North Korea's fresh emphasis on self-reliance and showcasing its ICBM capabilities is to call for internal solidarity and to urge the U.S. to change what it sees as Washington's stubborn and inflexible attitude toward its nuclear negotiations with the regime.
Lee Min-sun, Arirang News.