[3rd Report] Ministry of National Defense: "North Korea's Recent Two Missiles Are Tests of New ICBM"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] South Korea and the United States recently announced that the ballistic missiles launched by North Korea were test launches of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) disguised as a space launch vehicle.

The Ministry of National Defense stated in a text message sent to the press corps on the morning of the day, "The ballistic missiles launched by North Korea on the 27th of last month and the 5th of this month, based on precise analysis by South Korea and the U.S., are evaluated to be related to the new ICBM system first revealed and under development by North Korea during the Workers' Party Foundation Day military parade on October 10, 2020."

North Korea first unveiled the 'Hwasong-17' at the October 2020 military parade. The Hwasong-17 is larger in diameter and length than existing ICBMs and was called the 'monster ICBM' at the time of its unveiling.

The Ministry of National Defense added, "Although the recent two test launches did not reach the range of an ICBM, it is judged that North Korea intended to test the related performance ahead of a future maximum range test launch of the missile disguised as a space launch vehicle."

Earlier, based on the initially detected specifications, South Korea and the U.S. estimated the two recent launches to be medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM). However, after precise analysis, they concluded that these were part of a new ICBM.

In public reports related to the two launches, North Korea did not mention 'missiles' or show photos of the launch vehicles, instead announcing them as part of tests for 'reconnaissance satellite development.'

The Ministry of National Defense said, "Although North Korea did not disclose the specific system of the recent two missile test launches, South Korea and the U.S. reached the above judgment through precise analysis and consultation. We believe the international community needs to express a united opposition to North Korea's additional missile development, and thus we have made this public."

It also stated, "Our government strongly condemns North Korea's ballistic missile test launches, which violate multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, and urges North Korea to immediately cease actions that create security instability and escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region."

The Ministry of National Defense emphasized, "Our government, based on a firm South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture and close cooperation between the two countries, has been striving to resume dialogue with North Korea, and we urge North Korea to respond and promptly return to dialogue."

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