Kim Jong-un "As Important as ICBM"
North Korea Likely to Conduct Test Launch Soon
North Korea successfully conducted a test launch of a solid-fueled hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on January 15. [Image source=Yonhap News]
North Korea announced on the 20th that it successfully conducted a ground ignition test of a new multi-stage solid-fuel engine for a medium- to long-range hypersonic missile.
Korean Central News Agency reported that on the 19th, the Missile General Bureau and its affiliated Engine Research Institute carried out a ground ignition test of a multi-stage solid-fuel engine to be mounted on a medium- to long-range hypersonic missile at the West Sea Satellite Launching Station in Dongchang-ri, Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, according to the schedule for developing the new weapon system.
Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, supervised the test on site along with officials.
Chairman Kim stated, "The military strategic value of this weapon system is evaluated as being as important as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), starting from our nation's security environment and the operational requirements of the People's Army," adding, "The enemies know this better."
The news agency explained, "With the great success of this critical test, the timetable for completing the development of the new medium- to long-range hypersonic missile weapon system has been finalized."
It further added that Chairman Kim expressed great satisfaction with the excellent completion of the strategic weapon development tasks set forth in the five-year plan presented at the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.
North Korea has conducted several tests on solid-fuel ballistic missile development so far.
On November 11 and 14 last year, it conducted the first ground ignition test of a high-power solid-fuel engine for a medium-range ballistic missile, and on January 14 this year, it carried out a test launch of a medium- to long-range solid-fuel ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic maneuvering guided warhead (payload).
After the first ground ignition test at that time, North Korea emphasized that "very satisfactory results" were achieved and that "a solid guarantee was established to reliably accelerate the development of the medium-range ballistic missile weapon system."
From this, it is analyzed that after conducting the solid-fuel engine ground ignition test in November last year, North Korea conducted a test launch equipped with this engine in January this year, and based on the findings at that time, conducted another ground ignition test this time.
Since North Korea announced the successful completion of this test, there is an analysis that it may soon conduct another test launch of a hypersonic medium- to long-range missile equipped with the new engine.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
