North Korea Unveils 12-Axle ICBM Launch Vehicle...Showcasing New Missile Development?

Military Authorities: "Need to Observe Further to Determine if It's Merely for Show"

North Korea has unveiled a new 12-axle, 24-wheel Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL), prompting analysis that it is showcasing the development of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Korean Central News Agency reported on the 8th that Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, conducted an on-site inspection of a defense industry enterprise under the Second Economic Committee, releasing a photo showing Kim placing his right hand on the wheel of the TEL. The TEL in the photo has 12 axles, marking the first time North Korea has revealed a 12-axle TEL.

Previously, the TEL with the most wheels North Korea had disclosed was the one carrying the Hwasong-17 ICBM, which has 11 axles and 22 wheels. The solid-fueled Hwasong-18 uses a 9-axle, 18-wheel TEL, as the Hwasong-17 missile is about 23 meters long, slightly longer than the approximately 20-meter Hwasong-18. An increase in the number of TEL wheels suggests that the missile mounted on it has been lengthened to secure a longer range or that the warhead weight has been increased to enhance destructive power.

There is also analysis that the upper vehicle structure of the TEL revealed the previous day resembles more closely the TEL used for the Hwasong-18 than that for the Hwasong-17. This raises the possibility that North Korea is developing an improved version of the Hwasong-18 missile with increased length or warhead weight.

North Korea’s unveiling of the 12-axle TEL is interpreted as an attempt to demonstrate its missile capabilities and exert pressure on South Korea and the United States.

However, some caution that it is premature to assess North Korea’s missile capabilities based solely on the photo.

A military official stated, "South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies are closely monitoring North Korea’s weapons development trends," adding, "Although the appearance of the 12-axle TEL is a first, it remains to be seen whether this is merely for show or if missile upgrades are actually underway."