"Test Launch of New Missile Equipped with Super-Large Warhead"
North Korea Detected Launching Two Ballistic Missiles Early Yesterday
One of Two Missiles 'Failed', One Fell Near Pyongyang
North Korea has claimed success in the test launch of a new tactical ballistic missile equipped with a 'super-large warhead.' South Korean military authorities assessed that one of the two missiles fired by North Korea likely failed and fell near Pyongyang, but this appears to be a deception aimed at refuting that assessment. Recently, North Korea also claimed a 'successful multiple warhead test' for a missile launch, which was evaluated as an 'air explosion.'
On the 2nd, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, "The Missile General Bureau of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea successfully conducted a test launch of the new tactical ballistic missile 'Hwasongpho-11da-4.5' on the 1st." North Korea claimed that this new missile is a tactical ballistic missile equipped with a super-large warhead weighing 4.5 tons. This is the first time North Korea has announced the test launch of a tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a super-large warhead.
On the 1st, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile eastward. Citizens at Seoul Station's waiting room are watching news related to North Korea's missile launch. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
The report stated, "The test launch was conducted with a missile equipped with a heavy dummy warhead, aiming to confirm flight stability and hit accuracy over a maximum range of 500 km and a minimum range of 90 km," and added, "The Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea reported the significant results of the Missile General Bureau's test to the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee." In particular, regarding this missile launch, it insisted that "the test of the new weapons system is part of the normal activities of the Missile General Bureau and affiliated defense science research institutes of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," arguing that it is 'research activity' rather than a provocation.
Furthermore, it added, "The Missile General Bureau announced that it will conduct a test launch in July to verify the 250 km medium-range flight characteristics and hit accuracy of the new tactical ballistic missile 'Hwasongpho-11da-4.5,' as well as the explosion power of the super-large warhead." This appears to be a forecast of additional launches within this month.
Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff detected two ballistic missiles launched by North Korea in the early morning from the Jangyeon area in South Hwanghae Province toward the northeast direction, estimating both to be short-range ballistic missiles of the Hwasong-11 type (KN-23). One missile flew about 600 km, but the other flew only about 120 km. It was suggested that the missile with the shorter flight distance may have fallen on land near Pyongyang.
North Korea also launched two Hwasong-11 type missiles from the Jangyeon area in March last year. At that time, both missiles flew about 610 km. Given that this missile launch took place at the same location and targeted the same objective as last year, the missile with the shorter flight distance is evaluated as a 'failure.' Military authorities also consider it unlikely that North Korea tested two different types of missiles when firing two missiles.
Meanwhile, North Korea claimed on the 27th of last month, after launching ballistic missiles near Pyongyang on the 26th, that it was a "successful test to secure multiple warhead capability." However, since the launch occurred after sunrise and the missile trajectory was visible to the naked eye, it was observed that the missile flew unstably from the initial ascent phase and exploded in mid-air. The military authorities evaluate this as an exaggeration and deception.
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