North Korea grows arsenal as missile tests escalate

Seoul — This January has been one of the busiest months for North Korea’s missile testing, with launches displaying a dizzying array of weapon types, launch locations and increasing sophistication.

From hypersonic missiles and long-range cruise missiles to missiles launched from railcars and airports, the tests highlight the nuclear-armed state’s rapidly expanding and advancing arsenal amid stalled denuclearisation talks.

North Korea has not tested its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles or nuclear weapons since 2017, but leader Kim Jong-un has pushed for more “military muscle” to counter what he sees as threats from the US and its allies in Asia.

Kim visited an unidentified “important” munitions factory, state media said this week, underscoring his vow not only to improve capabilities, but mass produce and deploy more weapons.

Here are the different types of weapons tested so far this month:

‘Hypersonic’ missiles

North Korea said it tested a new type of “hypersonic” missile on January 5 and again on January 11, with Kim reported to have attended the second launch. 

Hypersonic weapons usually fly towards targets at lower altitudes than ballistic missiles and can achieve more than five times the speed of sound, or about 6,200km/h.

Despite their name, analysts say the main feature of hypersonic weapons is not speed but their manoeuvrability, which can help them evade missile defence systems.

South Korean officials questioned the capabilities of the missile after the first test, saying it did not appear to demonstrate the range and manoeuvrability claimed in a state media report and featured a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle rather than the type of next-generation hypersonic glide vehicle developed by countries such as China and Russia. Those officials later said the second test appeared to demonstrate greater performance.

Analysts said if Pyongyang can perfect such weapons, it would represent a potential major upgrade in its striking power against its nearby adversaries, complicating efforts by the US and its Asian allies to counter that.

KN-23 SRBM

On January 14 North Korea launched a pair of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from a train near the northern border with China, in what state media said was a short-notice drill aimed at boosting the proficiency of the troops operating the missiles.

North Korea first tested the rail-based system in September, saying it was designed as a potential counter-strike to any threatening forces.

Despite the country’s limited and sometimes unreliable rail network, rail mobile missiles are a relatively cheap and efficient option to improve the survivability of their nuclear forces, making it difficult for enemies to detect and destroy them before being fired, according to analysts.

The missiles appeared to be KN-23 SRBMs, which were first tested in May 2019, and are designed to evade missile defences by flying on a lower, “depressed” trajectory, experts said.

North Korea fired another pair of KN-23 missiles on Thursday, this time from a wheeled launching vehicle.

The tests confirmed the “explosive power” of its conventional warhead, state media said, while analysts noted it travelled on its lowest trajectory yet.

KN-24 SRBM

North Korea launched two SRBMs in a rare test from an airport in its capital, Pyongyang, on January 17.

The pair of missiles “precisely hit an island target” off the east coast, according to state media.

Analysts said the missiles appeared to be KN-24 SRBMs, which were last tested in March 2020 and appear to have entered mass production and deployment with military units.

The KN-24 resembles the US MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System and, like the KN-23, is designed to evade missile defences and carry out precision strikes on a flatter trajectory than traditional ballistic missiles.

Long-range cruise missiles

State media reported two long-range cruise missiles were fired on Tuesday, travelling 1,800km before hitting a target island in the sea off North Korea’s east coast.

The cruise missile would play a role in “boosting the war deterrence of the country,” state news agency KCNA said.

In September, North Korea tested a new “strategic” cruise missile for the first time, seen as possibly the country’s first such weapon with a nuclear capability.

Analysts said the latest cruise missile appeared to be similar, but also showed signs of being a possible variant.

North Korea’s cruise missiles usually generate less interest than ballistic missiles because they are not explicitly banned under UN Security Council resolutions, but analysts say land-attack cruise missiles can be no less a threat than ballistic missiles. 

Reuters