Failed North Missile Again [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

KN-23 Launch Suspected Near Jangyeon, South Hwanghae Province
1 of 2 Missiles Failed... Possible Fall Near Pyongyang

Of the two ballistic missiles North Korea launched in the early hours of the 1st, it is highly likely that one failed to launch and fell near Pyongyang.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea fired two ballistic missiles northeastward from the Jangyeon area in South Hwanghae Province on the same day. One of the missiles flew about 600 km, while the other only flew about 120 km. The missile that flew approximately 600 km fell into the sea off Chongjin, but it is believed that the missile that flew about 120 km fell on land. The point 120 km northeast from Jangyeon in South Hwanghae corresponds to the area east of Pyongyang.

A Joint Chiefs of Staff official stated, "It is difficult to determine the exact impact point of the missile with the shorter range, but it is believed to have gone toward Pyongyang."

Both missiles launched by North Korea are estimated to be short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) of the 'Hwasong-11' (KN-23) type. North Korea also fired two Hwasong-11 missiles from the Jangyeon area on March 14 last year, both flying about 610 km. At that time, North Korea announced through state media that "two ground-to-ground tactical ballistic missiles (Hwasong-11) were fired as part of a medium-range system training demonstration, and the missiles precisely struck the target island Pido in the Bangjindong area of Cheongam, Chongjin City, North Hamgyong Province, located 611.4 km away."

North Korea's recent ballistic missile launch took place at the same location, with the same range, and aimed at the same target (the sea off Chongjin) as the launch on March 14 last year, which strongly suggests that one of the two missiles failed to launch. Military authorities also estimate that the missile with the shorter range is also a Hwasong-11 and likely failed to launch, given the low probability that North Korea tested two different types of missiles during the two launches.