OPINION:
North Korea displayed a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), different from designs shown during 2012 and 2013, during a recent military parade in Pyongyang. Although the new missile’s performance is probably unchanged from previous models, the reliability is most likely greatly improved. The technology heavily borrows from Soviet designs but the new characteristics could very possibly have been taken from technology spirited out of Ukraine. Several North Korean operatives were recently arrested in Ukraine attempting to photograph riveting technology documents at a Ukrainian weapons plant, which could have been used in the new weapon system.
The third stage of the missile has been removed and the warhead replaced with a more blunt design. This allows for a lower weight and greater survivability during re-entry but makes it more susceptible to missile defense systems. It is also less accurate, according to the website 38north.org.
With a lighter warhead, the new missile will have a range of approximately 9,000 km which would enable North Korea to target the U.S. West Coast. Since the new design is simpler and more reliable, it is seen as a more credible threat. The design change, and needed flight testing, could delay the new missile’s operational capability until 2020 or beyond. North Korean work on a new mobile ICBM is ongoing but has been slower than expected.
Follow the author
Please read our comment policy before commenting.