How did North Korea test Moon Jae-In’s administration shortly after his inauguration?

Shortly after Moon Jae-In was inaugurated as president of South Korea on May 10, 2017, his administration faced an immediate test when North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on May 14, 2017.1

This provocation occurred during a period of heightened tension and served as an early challenge to Moon’s approach to inter-Korean relations. While Moon had campaigned on a platform advocating for engagement with the North—echoing the "sunshine policy"—his administration responded to this and subsequent provocations, such as the July 2017 ICBM launch, with a mix of pragmatism and defensive measures. These actions included overseeing South Korean missile tests, participating in live-fire drills with the U.S., and eventually reversing his campaign opposition to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.21