Missile experts evaluated the technological progress of the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-18, which North Korea first test-launched on the 13th, and predicted the possibility that North Korea received help from Russia when developing the Hwasong-18. raised
Dr. Marcus Schiller, a missile expert at ST Analytics in Germany, told Voice of America (VOA) on the 14th (local time), “It is interesting that the Hwasong-18 is very similar to the Russian ICBM.” He mentioned the possibility that they are collaborating or tracing back an already created system to obtain data such as the original design technique.
Dr. Schiller explained that unlike the ‘Hwasong-17’, which was a two-stage liquid fuel missile, the ‘Hwasong-18’ is a three-stage solid fuel propellant missile, and is similar in size, appearance, composition, and performance to Russian ICBMs.
“Amid the recent situation of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, the international community needs to pay attention to the possibility that cooperation in the missile field between the two countries is progressing in more detail due to North Korea’s needs.”
In addition, Dr. Shiller assessed that the North Korean threat has not changed significantly, although the solid propellant missile that North Korea launched for the first time this time is an important technological advancement that will shorten the launch time.
Dr. Schiller explained that even when North Korea launched a liquid fuel-based ICBM, it had been able to ‘launch it by pressing a button’ in the past because it had used the ‘ampoule’ method, which is a pre-fuel injection system.
In addition, he pointed out that North Korea’s adoption of a cold launch method during the test launch of the ‘Hwasong-18’ was an unavoidable choice for launching from a mobile launch vehicle (TEL).
The cold launch method reduces damage to the launch tube by igniting the engine in the air after launching the missile above a certain height from the launch tube.
Meanwhile, Masao Dahlgren, a researcher at the US Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Missile Defense Project, said, “It should be noted that North Korea actually used the solid fuel propulsion system that it has been professing for many years,” and said that a decrease in the alliance’s ability to respond could become a reality. I was concerned.
Researcher Dalgren pointed out that it takes less than 30 minutes to set up a solid fuel missile on a launch pad and inject fuel, and there is a military advantage in that the launch time can be shortened according to the quick reaction time.
It also analyzed that the launch of the Hwasong-18 was “a threat aimed at the US mainland rather than South Korea.”
However, he said, “North Korea’s solid-fuel ICBMs are still in an early test stage,” and “actually, more technological progress will be required.”
Previously, North Korea announced on the 14th that it had launched a ‘Hwasong-18′ on the 13th under the guidance of Kim Jong-un, the general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea. North Korea also hinted that it will enter the mass production stage after additional launches of ICBMs using solid fuel.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.