North Korea's New Tactical Ballistic Missile Test
North Korea has announced the successful test of a new tactical ballistic missile, the Hwasong-11Da-4.5, which is capable of carrying a very large warhead. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the missile, which can carry a warhead weighing up to 4.5 tonnes, was launched on Monday. The test aimed to verify the missile's flight stability and accuracy at a maximum range of 500 kilometers and a minimum range of 90 kilometers.
Doubts from South Korea
Despite North Korea's claims, the South Korean military has expressed doubts about the success of the test. According to Seoul, one of the missiles appeared to explode mid-air, suggesting a failure in the launch. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff indicated that the first missile flew approximately 600 kilometers, while the second traveled only about 120 kilometers before disappearing from radar.
The missile test comes amid heightened tensions following joint military exercises by South Korea, the United States, and Japan. Pyongyang has condemned these maneuvers, likening them to an 'Asian version of NATO' and warning of 'fatal consequences.'
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has previously committed to developing advanced weapons, including a super-large warhead, a military spy satellite, and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles. While the KCNA report described the tested missile as having a 'super-large warhead,' it did not explicitly mention a nuclear capability. However, analysts, including Hong Min from the Korea Institute for National Unification, suggest that the missile could indeed carry a nuclear warhead, thus classifying it as a nuclear weapon.
The recent missile tests and the subsequent reactions underscore the fragile state of relations on the Korean Peninsula. With North Korea continuing its weapons development and South Korea remaining vigilant, the region remains on edge.
- The name 'Da' in the missile's designation indicates that it is a third version of the Hwasong-11, a short-range missile first unveiled in 2019. This missile is based on the Russian Iskander, known for its quasi-ballistic trajectory.
- The KCNA report also mentioned that a second launch would be conducted later this month to further verify the missile's flight characteristics, impact accuracy, and explosive power at an average range of 250 kilometers.
- South Korea's military noted that the recent tests marked the second apparent failure in North Korean missile launches within a week. On June 26, another missile test seemed to fail during the initial phase of flight.
- Relations between the two Koreas have deteriorated significantly, with the North intensifying its weapons tests and launching balloons filled with garbage into the South. These actions are seen as retaliation for anti-regime propaganda balloons sent from South Korea.
