And now, given the potential cost of scuttling the recent agreement with the US, the decision to launch a long-range missile takes that desperation a step further. In fact, it has been suggested that the launch is intended to be a demonstration to Iran of the North’s missile prowess, as the Islamic Republic could become a customer for the illicit missile and nuclear-technology sales that are one of the regime’s few sources of hard currency.
而在眼下，考虑到撕毁新近达成的朝美协议的潜在代价，朝鲜发射远程导弹的决定更加显示了其急不可耐的心理。事实上，朝鲜的这次发射是为了向伊朗展示自己的导弹实力，而伊朗可能成为朝鲜非法导弹和核技术——朝鲜当局唯一的硬通货——的客户。