North Korea Forms 'Solid Fuel ICBM' Unit Without Test Firing

4 Missile Unit Flags Spotted at the Military Parade on the 8th
Units Seem to Have Been Organized After Only Cold Launch Tests

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea has recently been detected establishing a unit operating a 'solid-fuel based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)' that has not yet undergone test launches during a recent military parade. Analysts suggest this is because they have already confirmed the weapon system's performance through cold launch test procedures and other evaluations.

According to related authorities on the 15th, in the military parade footage broadcast on April 9th by Korean Central TV, a scene was captured showing four missile-related unit flags lined up side by side to the left of First Lady Ri Sol-ju as she entered the parade ground. North Korea held a nighttime military parade on April 8th to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army.

Military Flag Depicting 'Solid-Fuel ICBM' Appearing for the First Time at the Parade

Military flags of four missile-related units confirmed at the 75th anniversary parade ground of the People's Army [Image source=Yonhap News]

First, a flag featuring an image of a ballistic missile emitting flames as it ascends, enclosed within a red circle, was displayed. This flag was confirmed to be identical to the one mounted on the front of the transporter erector launcher (TEL) carrying the solid-fuel ICBM, which made its debut at this parade. The appearance of a new solid-fuel based ICBM with its own unit flag indicates the existence of a dedicated unit responsible for the missile's development, testing, and operation.

The missile was showcased on a 9-axle, 18-wheel TEL with circular launch canisters during the parade. It is shorter in length than North Korea's latest ICBM, the Hwasong-17, which uses an 11-axle, 22-wheel TEL, suggesting the missile is shorter than the Hwasong-17's estimated 22 to 24 meters.

Military flag of the new solid-fuel-based ICBM unit confirmed at the 75th anniversary parade ground of the People's Army [Image source=Yonhap News]

Previously, on April 15, 2017, during a parade commemorating the 105th birthday of Kim Il-sung (the Day of the Sun), North Korea unveiled an ICBM-class missile mounted on circular launch canisters, which was also speculated to be a solid-fuel missile. At that time, the TEL had 8 axles, but this recent one has increased to 9 axles, indicating the missile is longer than the one observed six years ago. Notably, the diameter appears larger compared to the rocket motor exposed during North Korea's solid-fuel combustion test conducted on December 15 last year.

North Korea's new solid-fuel ICBM seems to have been developed based on the existing medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) 'Pukguksong-2.' The Pukguksong-2 uses solid fuel and employs a cold launch method. Shin Jong-woo, Secretary General of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, analyzed, "North Korea has sufficient technical foundation to develop a solid-fuel ICBM based on the cold launch method used in the Pukguksong-2. It is likely that the new solid-fuel ICBM's performance was verified through cold launch tests without igniting the missile engine, using a launch pad similar to that of the new missile."

Flag Presumed to Represent 'Long-Range Cruise Missile' Operating Unit Also Captured

Military flag of the 'Hwaseong-17' unit confirmed at the 75th anniversary parade ground of the People's Army [Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, a flag symbolizing the Hwasong-17 operating unit was spotted mounted on the front of the TEL carrying the Hwasong-17. The flag bears the date '2022.11.', presumed to be the unit's establishment date. North Korea conducted a test launch of the Hwasong-17 on November 18 last year, observed in person by Chairman Kim Jong-un.

The dark navy blue flag belongs to the 'Missile General Bureau,' with the date '2016.4.30' inscribed on it, also indicating its establishment date.

Military flags of four missile-related units confirmed at the 75th anniversary parade ground of the Korean People's Army [Image source=Yonhap News]

Another flag, whose unit name has not yet been confirmed, depicts a missile painted with a black warhead and a white body inside a red circle. This color scheme resembles that of the long-range cruise missile North Korea launched in January last year. If the image on the flag indeed symbolizes this cruise missile, it suggests that North Korea has also established a related operating unit.

Meanwhile, on the 13th, the Korean Central News Agency reported, "In the administration that carries out the Party's strong army construction ideology and line, many military branches and units of the People's Army have been expanded and reorganized, important operational combat missions have been assigned according to the new strategic environment, and the strategic and tactical missions of overall units have changed." This implies that numerous People's Army units, including those operating ICBMs and tactical nuclear weapons, have been reorganized to adapt to the new strategic environment.

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