[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] US Mentions North Korea's Nuclear Issue Repeatedly... Preparing Three Major Strategic Weapons?

Concerns Over North Korea's Nuclear Development and Threats in the US
Indirect Expression of Legitimacy for Extended Deterrence and Nuclear Strikes

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Interest is gathering as claims about North Korea's nuclear weapons development status continue to emerge in the United States. Some analysts interpret this as the U.S. indirectly expressing the legitimacy of extended deterrence and considering a nuclear strike option against North Korea as a means of pressure.

On the 17th (local time), John Hyten, Vice Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated in a virtual symposium hosted by the U.S. National Defense University’s Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction that North Korea has developed a small number of nuclear weapons.

He mentioned that Russia has produced hundreds to thousands of nuclear weapons and that China possesses strong nuclear capabilities challenging the U.S. and its allies, then referred to North Korea. Vice Chairman Hyten used the term "a small number" regarding North Korea's nuclear capabilities but did not specify exact figures.

The U.S. Army, in a report on North Korea response operations published at the end of last month, analyzed that North Korea possesses approximately 20 to 60 nuclear weapons and has the capability to produce six new nuclear weapons annually. A report by the expert panel of the United Nations Security Council’s North Korea Sanctions Committee also assessed that North Korea may have succeeded in "miniaturizing nuclear warheads" while continuing its nuclear program.

The expert panel included in its report an assessment from a member state stating, "They may pursue further miniaturization to achieve technical improvements such as penetration aids or potentially develop multiple warhead systems."

Penetration aids refer to systems that enable weapons like intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to penetrate air defense networks while en route to their targets. The smaller the nuclear warhead, the lighter the missile’s overall weight, allowing it to travel farther. Therefore, miniaturization of nuclear warheads is considered a core technology for ICBM development alongside atmospheric reentry technology. The consensus among U.S. intelligence agencies is that North Korea has secured the capability for nuclear warhead miniaturization. However, evaluations on atmospheric reentry technology remain divided.

As concerns about North Korea’s nuclear weapons spread within the U.S., some interpret this as an attempt by the U.S. to overtly justify its extended deterrence toward South Korea. On the 14th (local time), Charles Richard, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command (photo), during a briefing at the Pentagon, was asked whether the operational plan created by South Korea and the U.S. to prepare for North Korean aggression includes the use of nuclear weapons. He replied, "I cannot comment on specifics of any operational plan." He added, "Regardless of the situation or operational plan review, U.S. Strategic Command is ready to support orders."

U.S. Deploys Three Nuclear Forces for Nuclear Strike Against North Korea
ICBMs, Nuclear Submarines, Long-Range Bombers Revealed One After Another
Recently Strengthened Defense Through Strategic Bomber Upgrades

The U.S. Department of Defense recently disclosed detailed plans for upgrading and operating the three nuclear forces (nuclear triad). The three nuclear forces refer to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), strategic nuclear submarines (SSBNs), and long-range bombers (B-52H and B-2A).

According to the data released by the U.S. Department of Defense, up to 400 LGM-30G Minuteman III missiles among the three nuclear forces have the fastest response time. Launched from ICBM silos (underground bunkers) in Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota, they can reach North Korean airspace in about 30 minutes at speeds up to Mach 23. Basic specifications include a weight of 36 tons, diameter of 1.67 meters, three solid-fuel motors, a range of approximately 9,600 km, and speed of Mach 23.

The U.S. Department of Defense explained that the 14 Ohio-class (submerged displacement of 18,000 tons) strategic nuclear submarines (SSBNs) will be replaced by Columbia-class (28,100 tons) starting in early 2030. Due to the stealthy nature of submarines operating underwater, they have the highest survival probability among the three nuclear forces. The 14 Ohio-class submarines carry up to 20 SLBMs (Trident II D5) with eight warheads each, each warhead having a yield of 100 kt (1 kt = equivalent to 1,000 tons of TNT). These missiles have a range of 13,000 km and contain 8 to 12 independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Their destructive power is known to be over 1,000 times that of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during the Pacific War.

There are also bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons: 46 B-52H (Stratofortress) and 20 B-2A (Spirit). The B-52, capable of carrying nuclear and precision-guided conventional weapons, is expected to remain operational beyond 2040. It can perform strategic target strikes, close air support, air interception, and air defense and maritime operations. During the 1991 Gulf War, the coalition led by the U.S. dropped 40% of the munitions on Baghdad air raids (Operation Desert Storm) using these bombers.

Two B-52s can monitor 364,000 km of sea within two hours. Once deployed, they can fly over 14,000 km without aerial refueling. During the Baghdad attack in September 1996, B-52s took off from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and flew 34 hours and 25,000 km round-trip, which the U.S. Department of Defense describes as the longest combat mission flight distance on record. On March 21, 2003, during the Iraq attack operation (Operation Iraqi Freedom), B-52 bombers launched 100 air-launched cruise missiles (CALCM) at night. Basic specifications include a wingspan of 56.4 meters, length of 12.4 meters, maximum takeoff weight of 219,000 kg, payload capacity of 31 tons, and speed of Mach 0.84.

The U.S. Department of Defense plans to replace the B-2A with the next-generation strategic bomber B-21 Raider starting in the mid-2020s. The new bomber will carry long-range stand-off (LRSO) cruise missiles and conventional bombs, and is expected to be equipped with advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and air-to-air missiles for self-defense. Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri is the sole operational base for the B-2. On February 1, 2009, the operation mission of the B-2A was transferred to the Air Force’s newest command, the Global Strike Command.

The U.S. Department of Defense stated, "The B-2 flew non-stop from Missouri to Kosovo and back, destroying 33% of targets in Serbia over eight weeks," and "It conducted the longest flight from Whiteman Base to Afghanistan to support enduring freedom operations."

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