North Korean authorities launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) ‘Hwasongpo-19’ five days ahead of the US presidential election. North Korea claimed that it was the ‘final version’ and ‘ultra-powerful means of attack’, but it had not completed the core technologies of ICBMs, such as atmospheric re-entry and multiple warhead individual target re-entry (MIRV) technology, and was using Russia as its backing to cooperate with South Korea and the United States. Analysis suggests that it is a threat.
On the 1st, Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North Korean Workers’ Party, reported that the Missile Administration successfully test-launched the latest intercontinental ballistic missile under the guidance of Chairman Kim Jong-un the morning before. According to reports, the Hwaseong-19 rose to a maximum altitude of 7,687.5 km and flew a distance of 1,001.2 km in 5,156 seconds (1 hour and 25 minutes) before landing in the open sea of the East Sea.
The newspaper said that the Hwaseong-19 is “the final version of the intercontinental ballistic missile that will be operated together with the Hwaseong Artillery-18” and that “it will carry out its mission and mission as the first core means.”
The Hwaseong-19 is longer than the existing Hwaseong-18, and has the longest flight time at 1 hour and 25 minutes. The apex altitude is also estimated to have increased by more than 1,000 km.
To reduce the flight distance, North Korea launched at a high angle rather than the normal angle (30 to 45 degrees). In the case of a high angle launch, the flight distance is 2 to 3 times the maximum altitude, so experts say that if the Hwasong-19 had been launched at a normal angle, The maximum range is expected to reach 16,000 km.
This means that if a missile is launched from Pyongyang, most of the world, excluding South America, including the entire United States, will be within range.
Additionally, judging from the color and shape of the flames in the photos released by North Korean media, it is presumed that solid fuel was used.
However, it has not been confirmed through this test whether North Korea has developed technology for warhead re-entry into the atmosphere or multiple warheads for individual targets, which are core technologies for ICBMs.
Yang Wook, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said in a phone call with Dong-A Ilbo, “Even though North Korea has not developed the core ICBM technology, they are exaggerating it as if they have perfected missile technology.” He added, “Russia’s Topol M, which has specifications similar to the Hwasong-18, “The range is 11,000 km, but it is not easy for North Korea to launch a missile with a range of more than 15,000 km,” he said.
It appears that North Korea attempted to show off its ability to carry multiple warheads by blunting the warhead mount of the Hwasong-19, but the explanation is that the weight of the warhead may have been intentionally reduced in order to increase the range.
Hong Min, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, analyzed, “Unlike the previous Hwasong-17 and Hwasong-18 types, this launch can be seen as a range extension concept based on the Hwasong-18 in that the purpose of the experiment was not disclosed.”
At the same time, Research Fellow Hong pointed out, “Because the test launch was not conducted at a normal angle, it is still unknown whether North Korea has secured the high-level core technologies for ICBMs, such as the warhead’s re-entry into the atmosphere, the warhead’s target-oriented flight, and the disadvantage of multiple warheads and maintaining direction.” did it
Meanwhile, there is an analysis that the North Korean authorities are actively showing off their strategic weapons, keeping in mind the transfer of cutting-edge military technology from Russia. This means that they are using Russia as their backing to claim that the unfinished ICBM is the final version.
Researcher Yang said, “What North Korea really wants from Russia is not money or material compensation, but technology,” and added, “The fact that North Korea has decided to send troops to Russia can be seen as an agreement on the transfer of such technology to some extent already reached.” did it
Researcher Yang went on to say, “North Korea is in a situation where it must conduct its seventh nuclear test before the end of its five-year national defense development plan,” adding, “Regardless of the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, North Korea will conduct its seventh nuclear test any time it gets its hands on the transferred weapons technology.” “We can even conduct experiments,” he observed.
Source: www.dailynk.com
