Kim Jong Un’s Latest Missile: Is North Korea Closer to Realizing Its Nuclear Ambitions?

North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un directed the first test launch of a new intermediate-to-long range solid-fueled missile, the Hwasong-16B, equipped with a newly developed hypersonic gliding warhead on the 2nd, reported the Korean Central News Agency on the 3rd. /Yonhap News

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) evaluated North Korea’s announcement of a successful test launch of a new intermediate-to-long range solid-fueled hypersonic ballistic missile (IRBM) on the 3rd as exaggerated.

The JCS stated, “The flight distance of the hypersonic ballistic missile claimed by North Korea differs from our military’s analysis. The results analyzed by South Korea, the United States, and Japan are around 372 miles,” and “The claims of intentionally delaying the ignition of the second-stage engine and changing the flight direction during the combustion of the second-stage engine are considered exaggerated.”

The Korean Central News Agency reported that Chairman Kim Jong Un of North Korea directed the first test launch of a new intermediate-to-long-range solid-fueled missile, the Hwasong-16B, equipped with a newly developed hypersonic gliding warhead, on the 2nd.

The media explained, “The test launch was conducted with a method of confirming the characteristics of the hypersonic gliding warhead’s leap-type flight trajectory and lateral maneuverability by forcibly limiting the speed and altitude by changing the flight method to a sudden orbit change in the active section and delaying the ignition of the two-stage engine, considering safety and limiting the range to within 621 miles.” The agency claimed, “The hypersonic gliding warhead followed the planned flight trajectory, reaching a first apex altitude of 62.7 miles, a second apex altitude of 44.8 miles, and accurately landed in the East Sea area of 621 miles of Korea.”

Chairman Kim Jong Un of North Korea directed the first test launch of a new intermediate-to-long range solid-fueled missile, the Hwasong-16B, equipped with a newly developed hypersonic gliding warhead on the 2nd, reported the Korean Central TV on the 3rd. /Korean Central TV·Yonhap News

The JCS reported that North Korea is believed to have focused on the flight performance test in the early stages of developing the new solid hypersonic missile. However, some technical advancements can be evaluated.

The JCS explained that North Korea has been developing various types of solid ballistic missiles since 2019, so short-range solid ballistic missiles are in the completed development stage, while solid hypersonic missiles and ICBM-class require verification of warhead heat protection and re-entry capabilities.

A JCS official said, “Hypersonic missiles are a weapon system that requires high-level technology, which even advanced countries are still developing,” and “It is limited to predict the time of militarization, but it is expected to take a considerable time.”

Meanwhile, Chairman Kim emphasized that “Another powerful strategic attack weapon that demonstrates the absolute superiority of our national defense science and technology has been born” regarding this hypersonic missile test launch. Chairman Kim said, “With this, we have completely realized the solidification, warhead control, and nuclear weaponization of all tactical, operational, and strategic missiles with various ranges, and we have brilliantly fulfilled the three principles of quickly, accurately, and powerfully of the Party Central’s missile force construction for any enemy target within the globe.”

The solid-fueled ballistic missiles possessed by North Korea include short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM·range 186~621 miles) such as KN-23 (Iskander), KN-24 (Atacms), KN-25 (super-large rocket launcher), medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM·621~1864 miles) Pukguksong-2, and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM·3420 miles or more) Hwasong-18.