Tracking and Striking Previously Launched Cruise Missiles
Expert: "Possibility of Byeolzzi-1-2 Upgrade"
Military: "Further Analysis Needed"
On the 21st, the Korean Central News Agency reported that North Korea successfully conducted a test launch of its latest surface-to-air missile.
According to the report, the North Korean Missile General Bureau carried out a test launch to comprehensively verify the combat performance of the latest surface-to-air missile weapon system, which has entered full-scale production at the military industrial enterprise the previous day.
North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un observed the test launch along with key members of the Party Central Military Commission. However, the Korean Central News Agency did not disclose the specific missile launch location.
Furthermore, the Korean Central News Agency explained that through this test launch, the latest surface-to-air missile weapon system demonstrated superior combat responsiveness and was evaluated to have an extremely high overall weapon system reliability.
Chairman Kim expressed his gratitude to the Surface-to-Air Weapon System Research Group and the relevant military industrial enterprise, stating, “We are equipping our military with another important defense weapon system boasting commendable combat performance,” according to the Korean Central News Agency.
The name of the weapon system was not mentioned on this day. Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Unification Studies, said, “It is difficult to identify the missile’s exterior from the photos released today. However, last April, when the new surface-to-air missile test launch was reported, the name ‘Byeolzzi-1-2’ was revealed for the first time. Since this time it is described as ‘latest model,’ it is possible that it is a different model or an upgraded version.”
The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that they had detected signs of North Korea’s missile test launch in advance, prepared accordingly, and took necessary measures by detecting the launch in real time. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the test launch was conducted by tracking and striking a previously launched cruise missile using the newly revealed surface-to-air missile.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the name and specifications of the new missile are “parts that require further analysis.”
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