[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Why Did North Korea Fire Three Missiles in Succession?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] North Korea's consecutive launches of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and short-range ballistic missiles on the 25th have drawn attention to its intentions. Officials dealing with North Korea assessed that the ICBM was aimed at the United States, while the two short-range ballistic missiles targeted South Korea and Japan respectively, intending to neutralize the missile defense systems of the South Korea-US alliance.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first missile launched in the morning is presumed to be an ICBM ballistic missile. This missile was detected flying approximately 360 km in distance, reaching an altitude of about 540 km, and traveling at a speed of Mach 8.9. This trajectory is similar to that of the Hwasong-17 missiles launched on February 25 and March 5.

The Hwasong-17 is estimated to have a maximum range exceeding 15,000 km when launched at a normal angle, putting the entire US mainland as well as major continents such as Africa and Oceania within its reach. The previously known maximum range of the Hwasong-15 was about 13,000 km.

The second and third missiles are analyzed by experts to be test launches of short-range ballistic missiles of similar types but with different trajectories. They are presumed to be the KN-23, known as the "North Korean version of the Iskander." The second missile reportedly disappeared from our detection assets at a relatively low altitude of about 20 km. 'Disappearance' means it vanished from radar detection, and the military is currently leaning toward considering this a failure.

Although North Korea has previously launched multiple missiles of different types and ranges mixed together, this is the first time an ICBM has been included in such a mixed launch.

Experts on North Korea analyze that the provocation was planned immediately after the South Korea-US and US-Japan summits concluded. This time, given the trajectory is almost identical to previous launches, it is evaluated as having a strong 'political nature,' reacting against recent South Korea-US summits, joint military exercises, and the strengthening of extended deterrence measures.