[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] North Korean Ballistic Missile Type 17? Type 18?

Japan, "Altitude 6000 km"... Possibility of Hwasong-17
Cannot rule out possibility of performance upgrade of Hwasong-18

On the 12th, North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea. This marks 27 days since North Korea last fired a ballistic missile in protest against the South Korea-U.S. joint combined firepower annihilation exercise on the 15th of last month.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "Our military detected one long-range ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea around 10 a.m. today," adding, "The ICBM, launched at a higher angle than normal, flew approximately 1,000 km before falling into the East Sea."

The Joint Chiefs did not disclose the flight time or maximum altitude of the North Korean ICBM, but the Japanese government announced that the missile fell around 11:13 a.m. and reached a maximum altitude of 6,000 km. If the Japanese government's announcement is accurate, this ICBM is estimated to be capable of flying over 15,000 km when launched at a normal angle (30?45 degrees). This range would put the entire U.S. mainland within striking distance.

Considering the maximum altitude and other factors, it is currently believed that this ICBM is more likely the liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 rather than the new solid-fueled Hwasong-18. In the past, the Hwasong-17 has reached altitudes above 6,000 km, whereas the Hwasong-18's peak altitude during test launches, including the one in April, was reportedly below 3,000 km. However, since the performance of the Hwasong-18 may have been upgraded, South Korean and U.S. military authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of its specifications.

This ICBM launch is interpreted as a provocation in response to reconnaissance flights by U.S. military reconnaissance aircraft over international airspace. Kim Yo-jong, Vice Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, issued three statements over two days from the 10th to the 11th, claiming that U.S. Air Force strategic reconnaissance aircraft violated North Korea's East Sea Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) airspace and threatened military counteractions if such incursions continue.

In a statement released by the Ministry of National Defense on the morning of the 10th, North Korea warned, "There is no guarantee that a shocking incident of a U.S. Air Force strategic reconnaissance aircraft being shot down over the East Sea of Korea will not occur." Kim Yo-jong also issued statements late on the 10th and early on the 11th, suggesting military actions by saying, "The U.S. military will experience very perilous flights."

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