North Korea "Preparing Satellite by Next Year"... Is This a Step Toward ICBM Development?

Possibility of Preparing Development for Satellite-Assumed ICBM Launch Vehicle

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] North Korea has announced plans to prepare a military reconnaissance satellite by next year, and it is expected to continue launching missiles disguised as 'reconnaissance satellites.'

On the 19th, North Korea stated, "We will complete preparations for the first military reconnaissance satellite by April 2023."

The launch vehicles and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that North Korea has fired, claiming to launch satellites, share core technologies such as the airframe, propulsion system, and guidance control devices. Although North Korea insists these are tests for satellite launches, the international community views them as launches for ICBM development.

Kim Jong-un, who is likely engrossed in preparations for the upcoming Workers' Party plenary meeting scheduled for the end of this month, is also highly likely to announce policies for ICBM or satellite development through a New Year's address or a plenary meeting report early next year. Subsequently, North Korea is expected to steadily conduct tests of solid-fuel engines for ICBM payloads disguised as satellite launches throughout next year.

North Korean media reported on the 16th that they successfully conducted a ground static test of a 140tf (ton-force, thrust capable of lifting 140 tons) class solid-fuel engine at the West Sea Satellite Launching Station. Although North Korea's claims have not been objectively verified, if true, the thrust of the first-stage rocket engine would be about 1.7 times stronger than that of the United States' representative ICBM, the Minuteman-3, which is known to have a thrust of about 80tf.

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un has emphasized the 'Five Major Tasks.' These tasks include ▲production of super-large nuclear warheads ▲improving strike accuracy within a 15,000 km range ▲development and introduction of hypersonic glide vehicle warheads ▲development of solid-fuel ICBMs for underwater and ground launch ▲possession of nuclear submarines and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). Since the beginning of this year, North Korea has launched 65 missiles in 36 instances, including short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs), medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs), and last month, the Hwasong-17 ICBM.

Shin Jong-woo, Secretary General of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, said, "Considering the weather in the photos released by North Korea, the launch vehicle is merely a simple imaging device mounted on a Rodong missile rather than a launch vehicle for satellite development," adding, "They intend to continuously develop solid-fuel missiles to neutralize South Korea-U.S. reconnaissance and defense capabilities."

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