Heritage Foundation in the US: "CIA Assesses North Korea's ICBM Capable of Atmospheric Reentry"

Assessed as a Threat Capable of Striking Anywhere Across the US
"Using Nukes to Force Concessions in Negotiations with the United States"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has assessed that North Korea already possesses reentry technology for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and it is known to have concluded that North Korea's nuclear weapons pose a realistic threat capable of striking anywhere across the U.S. mainland.

The Heritage Foundation stated in the 'Threat Assessment on North Korea' section of its '2021 U.S. Defense Power Index' report released on the 17th (local time) that "The CIA evaluates that North Korea's ICBM reentry vehicle would function properly along a normal trajectory if launched targeting the U.S. mainland." It added, "However, North Korea has not yet publicly demonstrated flight tests proving reentry capability."

ICBMs are strategic weapons that, after launch, enter the highest altitude outside the atmosphere and then reenter the atmosphere to descend, causing massive destruction. The core technology is known to be the ability to withstand the intense heat generated during reentry. North Korea has promoted that it has secured reentry capability so far, but since it has not disclosed any live-fire test launches to verify this, it has been unclear whether it actually possesses this technology according to evaluations by South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies. If the Heritage Foundation's report is accurate, North Korea's ICBMs are now considered a realistic threat with a range covering the entire U.S. mainland.

The Heritage Foundation explained in the report, "In July last year, U.S. Forces Korea assessed that North Korea's ICBM Hwasong-15 has a range of 8,000 miles (approximately 12,875 km) and can reach anywhere on the U.S. mainland." North Korea also unveiled a new type of ICBM, presumed to have been developed after the Hwasong-15, at the Workers' Party's 75th anniversary military parade on the 10th of last month. The new ICBM is estimated to be longer and have a larger diameter than the Hwasong-15, likely making it more powerful in terms of range and firepower.

The Heritage Foundation stated, "U.S. and allied intelligence agencies believe that North Korea has already succeeded in miniaturizing nuclear warheads and possesses the capability to mount nuclear weapons on medium-range missiles as well as the capability to strike the U.S. mainland with missiles." It explained, "North Korea seeks to enhance its importance and reputation domestically, regionally, and internationally, and uses missile and nuclear tests to extract various concessions in negotiations with the U.S. that package nuclear weapons and aid issues together."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.