ICBMs Including 'Hwaseong-18' Revealed Through North Korean Media
Extremely Hypersonic Missiles Capable of Attacking the US Also Appear
There is interest in the intention behind North Korea's unveiling of a strategic missile base operating intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). This is the first time North Korea has revealed the interior of a strategic missile base, and it is interpreted as a move to assert its presence ahead of the U.S. presidential election and to demonstrate that there is no gap in its military power despite dispatching troops to Russia.
On the 23rd, the Korean Central News Agency and Rodong Sinmun reported that Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, inspected a strategic missile base operating ICBMs. Although the exact date of the inspection was not disclosed, it is presumed to be recent based on his attire and other clues.
At the site, Chairman Kim stated, "The threat posed by the United States' strategic nuclear means to the security environment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) is increasing day by day," and emphasized, "It is urgently required to more firmly enhance our war deterrence and strictly maintain a thorough readiness posture of nuclear forces for counteraction." He asserted that the U.S. nuclear threat is escalating, underscoring the will and legitimacy to strengthen nuclear forces including ICBMs.
He stressed the need to maintain a readiness posture capable of swiftly retaliating using strategic weapons if attacked. The news agency reported that Chairman Kim emphasized, "We will make every effort to further modernize and fortify strategic missile bases and maintain a thorough readiness posture so that all bases can swiftly deliver strategic counter-strikes to enemies at any given moment under various circumstances."
According to the photos released that day, the missiles deployed at the strategic missile base appear to be the ICBM 'Hwasong-18'. The Hwasong-18 is estimated to have a range of over 15,000 km, putting the entire United States within its reach. Additionally, there was an image of Chairman Kim placing his hand on the warhead of a missile believed to be a medium-range hypersonic missile. If development of this hypersonic missile is completed, it is evaluated to be capable of striking as far as Guam, a U.S. territory.
North Korea's disclosure of Chairman Kim's actions is interpreted as an attempt to assert its presence ahead of the U.S. presidential election on November 5. It is also seen as signaling an intention to bring 'nuclear disarmament' to the negotiation table with the United States in the future. Some interpret it as an effort to conceal any power gaps caused by dispatching troops to assist Russia in the Ukraine war.
A government official said, "It appears that North Korea exposed advanced weapons to dispel concerns internally that its military power might weaken due to sending troops to Russia."
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