North Claims Development of Monster-Class Ballistic Missile [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Claim of Successful Test Launch of 4.5t Warhead Missile
Military: Low Possibility of Test Launch in Inland Areas

North Korea has claimed to have developed a new tactical ballistic missile equipped with an ultra-large warhead. It appears to be a missile designed to counter South Korea's Hyunmoo ballistic missiles and target underground bunkers used by South Korea and the United States during wartime situations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 2nd, the Korean Central News Agency reported, "We successfully test-fired the 'Hwaseongpo-11da-4.5' equipped with a 4.5-ton ultra-large warhead the day before," adding, "This test launch was conducted with a simulated warhead missile to verify flight stability and hit accuracy for a maximum range of 500 km and a minimum range of 90 km."

The issue lies in whether North Korea's test launch was truly successful. The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that North Korea fired two ballistic missiles the previous day, but one flew only about 120 km, suggesting a possible failure. In contrast, North Korea claimed that the missile did not explode mid-air but reduced its range to strike the target. To prove the success, North Korea must release photos showing ground impact.

The office of Yoo Yong-won, a member of the People Power Party, said, "North Korea claims to have launched an improved version of the KN-24 equipped with a high-yield warhead, but the claim can only be verified if footage showing hits on target points near Sariwon and Alseom is released."

North Korea Focuses on Developing Tactical Nuclear Weapons with Increased Warhead Weight

North Korea has been focusing on developing ballistic missiles with increased warhead weight. In March 2021, North Korea emphasized that it had launched an improved version of its version of the Iskander missile (KN-23, 19-1 SRBM), increasing the warhead weight from around 1 ton to up to 2.5 tons. These are tactical nuclear weapons, not strategic ones. While strategic nuclear weapons are used to completely devastate large cities or military facilities, tactical nuclear weapons can destroy only the target area tactically.

North Korea's effort to increase warhead weight is aimed at bunkers housing the command posts of South Korea and the United States. These include wartime command and control facilities of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command such as 'CP Tango,' 'SCIF' (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility), the underground bunker 'CC Seoul,' the 'B1 bunker' underground within the Capital Defense Command, and the 'B2 bunker' located underground in the Joint Chiefs of Staff building.

Dr. Lee Chun-geun, a visiting expert at the Science and Technology Planning and Evaluation Institute, said, "They will continue to develop underground penetrating warheads as a non-nuclear means to destroy command posts or fire bases."

South Korean Military Responds with Live-Fire Training for the First Time in Six Years

Some evaluate that North Korea was conscious of South Korea's Hyunmoo series ballistic missiles. The Hyunmoo-4 ballistic missile, unveiled on Armed Forces Day last October, has a warhead weight exceeding 2 tons and a range of 800 km, making it a core component of South Korea's 3-axis system for massive retaliation against North Korea (KMPR).

Meanwhile, the South Korean military resumed live-fire artillery training for the first time in about six years since the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement. On the 2nd, the Army announced that live-fire training was conducted at Chilseong firing range in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, and Jeokgeori firing range in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province. These firing ranges are located within 5 km south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). At Chilseong firing range, six 105mm K105A1 wheeled self-propelled howitzers were deployed, and at Jeokgeori firing range, six K-9 self-propelled howitzers were mobilized.