North Korea, One ICBM Launch... Did They Retry Hwasong-17?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) eastward on the 18th. Following the launch of a short-range ballistic missile the previous day, this marks a provocation for two consecutive days, interpreted as a response against the South Korea-U.S. and South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation.

On the day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "At around 10:15 a.m., one long-range ballistic missile (ICBM) was detected launched from the Pyongyang Sunan area toward the East Sea," adding, "The ICBM's flight distance was approximately 1000 km, altitude about 6100 km, and speed about Mach 22 (22 times the speed of sound)."

This is the eighth time North Korea has launched an ICBM this year. North Korea also claimed to have successfully test-fired one ICBM 'Hwasong-15' from the Pyongyang Sunan area toward the East Sea on March 24, as well as the 'Hwasong-17.' Military authorities are currently analyzing whether the ICBM launched this time is a 'Hwasong-15' or a 'Hwasong-17.'

Since North Korea first unveiled the Hwasong-17 at the Workers' Party 75th anniversary military parade in October 2020, it has attempted several test launches this year, including related development tests, but no successful cases have been confirmed yet.

The Hwasong-17, which appeared mounted on a massive 11-axle, 22-wheel transporter erector launcher (TEL), is estimated to be 22 to 24 meters long, earning the nickname "monster ICBM," the longest in the world. The Hwasong-17 is being developed as a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) type capable of carrying 2 to 3 nuclear warheads. Theoretically, once the warheads separate over the target area, it can simultaneously strike Washington and New York in the United States.

North Korea's ICBM launch signals its intention to respond "strong against strong" to the trilateral agreement among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan to strengthen extended deterrence. It was a condemnation of the trilateral summit results held on the 13th in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, during the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) related summit, attended by President Yoon Suk-yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

At the time, the three countries adopted a joint statement at the summit declaring, "We will cooperate to strengthen extended deterrence against North Korea," warning that "if North Korea conducts a nuclear test, it will face a strong and resolute response from the international community."

The three countries also expressed their intention to share real-time information on North Korean missiles, and at the subsequent South Korea-U.S. summit, Presidents Yoon and Biden shared concerns about North Korean provocations.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "Immediately after North Korea's ballistic missile launch, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Seung-gyeom held a South Korea-U.S. coordination meeting with Combined Forces Command Commander Paul LaCamera, closely sharing the situation, and confirmed that the combined defense posture will be further strengthened against any threats and provocations from North Korea."

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