This test launch was viewed as an act of political defiance as negotiations on the future of North Korea's nuclear program development were taking place between North Korea and the United States in New York.
Uji coba ini dipandang sebagai tindakan kontroversial karena negosiasi mengenai masa depan program pengembangan nuklir Korea Utara yang sedang berlangsung antara Korea Utara dan Amerika Serikat di New York.