North Korea Awards 'Hero Title' to ICBM Launch Vehicle, Not a Person

ICBM Hwasong-17 Launch Pad Awarded a Medal
"TEL Operability Improved... Also to Showcase Completed Form"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea has awarded the title of Hero to the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) and presented it with medals and orders. Since it is rare to bestow the title of Hero on an object rather than a person, this is analyzed as a gesture to commend the successful improvement of the mobility of the ICBM TEL.

In particular, Kim Jong-un, as Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, personally oversaw the promotion of field-grade officers related to the 'Hwasong-17,' which is also considered an unusual move.

Awarding the 'Hero Title' to a Machine, Not a Person?

On the 27th, Joseon Central TV reported, "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un took a commemorative photo with the personnel who contributed to the successful test launch of the new intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-17."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 27th that "The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly awarded the title of Hero of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, along with a Gold Star Medal and the First Class National Flag Order, to the Hwasong-17 launcher vehicle No. 321."

The launcher vehicle refers to the Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL). While traditional missiles were launched from fixed positions, recently, mobility and survivability have been enhanced by adding movement and directional change capabilities. It is a long truck-like vehicle carrying the missile, which moves (Transporter) to the desired launch site, erects the launch tube (Erector), and then launches (Launcher) the missile.

North Korea used the TEL numbered '321' during the Hwasong-17 launch on the 18th and awarded the Hero title to this TEL. However, the commemorative photo from that day shows the '322' TEL, likely because the 321 TEL, which had already launched the missile, had an empty missile compartment, so the 322 TEL carrying the missile was mobilized.

It is unprecedented for North Korea to award the Hero title to an object rather than a person. Analysts suggest this is to commend the successful improvement in the mobility of the ICBM TEL, which had been questioned.

Launcher Vehicle Previously Questioned for Inability to Move Locations

North Korea, Hwasong-17 Test Launch
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

Unlike the past when North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) across various regions nationwide, the launch site for ICBMs has been almost fixed around the Pyongyang Sunan area. The Sunan Airfield used concrete runways with fixed supports, but recently, ICBMs have also been launched using TELs.

Sunan Airfield is near Sinri, where North Korea’s ICBM assembly facility is located. There have been speculations that North Korea might lack the capability to move large-scale ICBMs such as the Hwasong-17, which is 24 meters long and weighs about 100 tons when loaded with liquid propellant, to other locations. Although the launch on the 18th also took place around Sunan, the location differed slightly from previous launches, which may be the background for awarding the TEL the Hero title.

Previously, on March 24 this year, North Korea launched the Hwasong-17 about 1 km south of Sinri, near Sunan Airfield. This was at the southern point of the civilian runway at Sunan Airfield. On the 18th of this month, the launch was detected moving north from the civilian runway to the taxiway section before the military runway. This location is about 4 km away from past launch sites, meaning the TEL moved more than 5 km from Sinri.

Although 4 to 5 km may seem a short distance, placing several decoy missiles along this route makes it difficult to identify the real missile's location until just before launch in case of an emergency. Improving TEL mobility directly enhances missile survivability.

"Significance of Improved TEL Operability... Also to Showcase Completion"

On the 27th, Chosun Central TV reported, "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un took a commemorative photo with the members who contributed to the successful test launch of the new intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-17."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Hong Min, head of the North Korea Research Division at the Korea Institute for National Unification, analyzed the awarding of the Hero title to the TEL, saying, "There must have been mobility issues with the TEL during previous ICBM operations, and this seems to indicate an improvement in the previously unsatisfactory operability."

He added, "There were many analyses that North Korea’s TEL mobility was poor, limiting ICBM launches to only Pyongyang Sunan Airport, but by awarding the Hero title this time, they intentionally hinted that ICBM launches can now be conducted nimbly at different locations," and said, "This can be seen as a message that surprise ICBM launches using TELs are possible in the future."

Additionally, it appears to serve the purpose of showcasing the completed model capable of freely moving and launching the Hwasong-17, known as the 'monster missile' due to its world’s longest body length.

This aligns with claims made by missile scientists and technicians at North Korea’s Academy of Defense Science in a letter of determination to General Secretary Kim Jong-un, stating that "(under Kim Jong-un’s guidance) the Hwasong-17, the world’s strongest absolute weapon, achieved complete success in its final test launch."

This implies that the launch on the 18th was the 'final test' of the Hwasong-17 and that the TEL’s performance was also conclusively verified. The Hwasong-17 TEL was manufactured with 11 axles and 22 wheels. The previous Hwasong-15 TEL, estimated to be about 21 meters long, had 9 axles and 18 wheels, so the number of wheels has increased.

'Kim Jong-un Personally Oversees Promotion of Hwasong-17 Launch Officers'

On the 27th, Chosun Central TV reported, "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un took a commemorative photo with the members who contributed to the successful test launch of the new intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-17."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, North Korea also announced the promotions of military personnel involved in the Hwasong-17 launch on the same day. Notably, Kim Jong-un, as Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, personally oversaw the promotion of field-grade officers, which experts regard as an unusual occurrence.

Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, interpreted, "It is very unusual for the Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission to intervene even in lower-level personnel matters, indicating that the success of the Hwasong-17 launch holds special significance for North Korea."

The promotion of Jang Chang-ha, director of the Academy of Defense Science, and Kim Jong-sik, deputy director of the Party’s Military Industry Department, to general (four-star) is interpreted as entrusting them with the responsibility to lead North Korea’s future military development. It is seen as the beginning of a generational change in the military leadership, following Park Jong-chon, secretary of the Party Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Ri Pyong-chol, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and a key figure in nuclear and missile development.

Hong Min said, "The promotions clearly announce the success of the Hwasong-17 to the outside world," and predicted, "Jang Chang-ha, Kim Jong-sik, and Yu Jin (former head of the Party’s Military Industry Department) will be the next generation replacing Park Jong-chon and Ri Pyong-chol."