Minister Shin Won-sik: "ICBM Deployment in Combat is Exaggerated"

National Assembly Defense Committee Report "Commercial Cameras Mounted on Satellites"
"Technically Difficult to Capture Normal Satellite Images"

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik stated on the 21st that "the operational deployment of the solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-18 has been exaggerated."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During a briefing at the National Assembly's Defense Committee on the same day, Minister Shin also judged that the claim that North Korea's military reconnaissance satellite 'Malligyung-1,' launched last month, began its official mission earlier this month is not credible. He pointed out, "Even the United States and South Korea, which possess advanced technology, can only start reconnaissance satellite missions 5 to 6 months after launch," adding, "The claim that North Korea is conducting normal missions just about ten days after launch is an excessive exaggeration that does not consider technical capabilities." However, he added, "Communication is taking place."

He said, "North Korea's satellite falls short of 'sub-meter' resolution capable of identifying objects smaller than 1 meter in both width and height," and noted, "The reconnaissance satellites launched by North Korea in May and August contained commercial 'Nikon cameras,' and since there is no sign of improvement beyond that, the one launched this time is likely at that level, but I assess it will improve."

Regarding North Korea's refusal to release photos taken by its reconnaissance satellites, he stated, "Neither we nor the United States disclose the photos themselves. It is difficult to judge North Korea's non-disclosure as nonsense," but also said, "It is almost certain that technically, normal photo shooting is not being properly conducted."

He gave a negative response to concerns that the real-time missile warning information sharing system initiated by South Korea, the United States, and Japan on the 19th might be a stepping stone toward U.S. participation in the missile defense (MD) system in the future.

Minister Shin said, "Strictly speaking, the term 'joining the MD system' does not exist," adding, "It is merely a matter of whether to raise or lower the level of missile defense cooperation, but it is a step forward compared to before."

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