[Summary] Ministry of National Defense: "North Korea Recently Conducted Two ICBM Performance Tests"

[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. North Korea, in two public reports related to the launches, referred to the tests as part of "reconnaissance satellite development" without mentioning "missiles" or showing photos of the launch vehicles.

The Ministry of National Defense stated in a text message sent to the press corps this morning, "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 United States, are assessed to be related to the new ICBM system first revealed and under development by North Korea during the Workers' Party founding day military parade on October 10, 2020."

North Korea first unveiled the Hwasong-17 during the October 2020 military parade. The Hwasong-17 is larger in diameter and length compared to 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 initial detected specifications, South Korea and the United States estimated the two recent launch vehicles to be medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM). However, after precise analysis, they concluded that these were part of a new ICBM.

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 accordingly and return to talks promptly."

Meanwhile, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un visited the West Sea Satellite Launching Station, capable of launching long-range rockets that can be converted into ICBMs, and ordered the renovation of the satellite rocket launch facilities, predicting an ICBM launch soon. The West Sea Satellite Launching Station, located in Dongchang-ri, Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, is equipped with modern launch pads and rocket transport rails capable of launching long-range rockets.

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