North Korea possesses the technology to enter and change orbits with a propulsion system
If satellite technology is advanced enough to change orbits in space freely, North Korea could develop a more threatening weapon system than the current ballistic missile.
Countries such as Russia and China are currently developing weapons using hypersonic missiles and space technology. The Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) is a primary weapon being developed. This system involves a missile orbiting the Earth like a satellite, before falling towards its intended target, earning it the nickname “satellite bomb FOBS”.
Launching a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) in the FOBS style can be particularly menacing. If a nuclear warhead-equipped HGV re-enters the atmosphere from a low Earth orbit and strikes a target at hypersonic speeds, it becomes challenging to predict where the nuclear bomb will hit until just before launch. This renders the defense network ineffective and defenseless.
North Korea has also recently been known to focus on HGV development. They recently announced a successful test of a multi-stage solid fuel engine for use in new medium-range hypersonic missiles and test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic maneuvering warhead in January.
North Korea’s technology is currently being evaluated in the initial stage. Still, if HGV technology and satellite orbit adjustment technology are combined, there is a possibility of success in launching HGV in the FOBS style. In this case, the missile defense system built by the United States, assuming a missile threat coming from the Arctic, could have holes, potentially changing the future war landscape as a game changer.
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