Military: "New ICBM Still in Intermediate Stage"...Dismisses Concerns of 'Kill Chain Neutralization'

by Jang Heejun

Published 14 Apr.2023 11:31(KST)

"Concerns Over Kill Chain Neutralization? Just Groundless Worries"

The military authorities evaluated North Korea's newly launched solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Hwaseong-18' as being at an 'intermediate stage for development.'

A Ministry of National Defense official stated on the 14th, "The test launch of the 'Hwaseong-18' conducted by North Korea the previous day was an intermediate stage test launch aimed at developing a long-range ballistic missile using solid fuel," adding, "Additional time and effort are required to complete the system development."

North Korea's Korean Central News Agency reported on the 14th that "On the 13th, a test launch of the new type intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Hwasongpho-18,' which will serve as a prospective core strategic force of the Republic's strategic forces and fulfill the mission of significant war deterrence power, was conducted with the attendance of Chairman Kim Jong Un."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The official mentioned the technologies cited in North Korea's announcement that day, including ▲solid-fuel multi-stage engines ▲single-stage separation ▲time-delay separation ignition methods, explaining, "These are not new but rather typical technological elements that must be passed through during ballistic missile development." Furthermore, he added, "We possess more efficient and advanced solid-propellant ballistic missile technologies than these."

In particular, the military authorities dismissed concerns raised by some about the 'neutralization of the Kill Chain' as "mere groundless fears."

A military official emphasized, "Our military has the capability to detect, strike, and defend against North Korea's missile threats to the Korean Peninsula," and added, "Moreover, our three-axis system is not fixed on the original design concept from the past but is continuously evolving and advancing technologically to include real-time target detection and analysis capabilities across all North Korean regions according to changes in North Korea's threat trends, ultra-precision rapid strike capabilities based on land, sea, and air, complex multi-layer missile interception capabilities, and high-power ballistic missile capabilities."