[Comprehensive Report 3] North Korea Fires 2 Ballistic Missiles... Likely KN-23

North Korea's Korean Central TV released photos on the 11th showing the launch of two short-range projectiles conducted the previous day in the Hamhung area of South Hamgyong Province. The military initially estimated these projectiles to be similar to the Iskander-class KN-23 short-range ballistic missile, but the photos released by North Korea suggest they are a new type of ballistic missile different from the KN-23. The photos show the launch scenes released by Central TV that afternoon. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] North Korea launched unidentified projectiles into the East Sea on the 17th.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated in a text message sent to the press corps at around 8:56 a.m. that day, "North Korea fired two ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang Sunan Airport area."

Considering the similarity to the missiles launched on the 14th, there is a possibility of a re-launch of the "North Korean version of Iskander." The straight-line distance from Pyongyang Sunan Airport to the uninhabited island of Alseom is about 370 to 400 km. However, the military authorities are still analyzing whether the launch platform was a rail or a transporter erector launcher (TEL) vehicle.

North Korea's launch on this day marks the fourth show of force this year. Previously, on the 5th and 11th, North Korea launched ballistic missiles claimed to be "hypersonic missiles" in the Jagang Province area, and on the 14th, two short-range ballistic missiles of the "North Korean version of Iskander" (KN-23) were fired from a train on the railway in the Uiju area of North Pyongan Province.

The Biden administration in the United States responded to North Korea's "hypersonic" launches by imposing its first sanctions on North Korea, but North Korea has continued its shows of force at three-day intervals as if to flaunt the response.

North Korea experts noted, "It is important to observe that North Korea is proceeding with weapons development according to its plans while refraining from aggressive external messages, unlike in the past." This means that until the completion of the national strategic weapons modernization task, North Korea intends to continuously test and finalize the establishment of "tactical nuclear delivery means" while avoiding international community responses.

North Korea may also conduct additional test launches of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) in the future. The U.S.-based North Korea specialist media 38 North analyzed satellite images and concluded that North Korea's Sinpo-class submarine was repaired and redeployed in December last year. Last year, North Korea consecutively test-launched long-range cruise missiles (September 11), train-launched ballistic missiles (September 15), and SLBMs (October 19).

Jung Sung-jang, head of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, said, "North Korea intends to maintain a 'leader-to-leader' relationship with China, which is friendly to North Korea, but will respond with a 'strong-on-strong' stance toward the United States, which is hostile to North Korea, for the time being."