US approves sales… Strengthening the ability to respond to North Korean missiles
North Korea: Successfully tests new solid fuel engine
The United States tentatively approved the sale of the SM-6 surface-to-air interceptor missile (pictured) to Korea on the 14th (local time). The SM-6, known as the ‘Patriot of the Sea’, is a multi-purpose missile that can intercept North Korean aircraft, ballistic missiles, as well as hypersonic missiles. It is reported that a total of 100 SM-6s will be introduced between 2025 and 2031. It is expected that missile defense capabilities against North Korea will be greatly strengthened when installed on our military’s next-generation Aegis ships, which will be deployed from 2025. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSC) under the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement on this day, “The Department of State has approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of SM-6 Block 1 missiles and related equipment worth $650 million (approximately KRW 846 billion).” revealed.
On this day, North Korea announced that it had successfully tested a solid fuel engine to be used in a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). North Korea previously test-fired the Hwasong-18, a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. This time, it appears that the Hwaseong-18 type solid fuel propellant has been modified and a new IRBM is on the verge of completion. The new IRBM can strike not only the Korean Peninsula but also Guam, the launch base for U.S. strategic assets. Solid fuel missiles are capable of surprise launches and are difficult to detect before launch.
Flying at 3.5 times the speed of sound – maximum range 460km… Expansion of North Korean missile interception system to the sea
North Korea “successful solid engine test for IRBM”… Aiming to neutralize nuclear umbrella by striking Guam
The SM-6 interceptor missile, which the U.S. government tentatively approved for sale to Korea on the 14th (local time), is the ‘fist’ of the Aegis warship. When the radar, which is the ‘eye’ of Aegis, detects enemy ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles, the fist SM-6 can fly and destroy them at low altitude (about 35 km). Unlike the U.S. and Japanese Aegis ships, which are equipped with multi-layered interceptor missiles, our Navy’s Aegis ships are still equipped only with missiles for intercepting aircraft (SM-2). A military official emphasized, “If the SM-6 is installed on the Aegis ship, the interception network against North Korea will become more dense along with ground interception weapons such as the Patriot (PAC-3).”
Meanwhile, North Korea explicitly revealed on this day that it had conducted a combustion test of a solid fuel engine for a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). The countdown to the emergence of a new nuclear weapon targeting launch bases where extended deterrence (nuclear umbrella) forces against North Korea, such as U.S. strategic bombers, is located, has begun. The military believes that North Korea will begin a test launch of a new IRBM at an early date.

SM-6 is scheduled to be installed first on the King Jeongjo, the first of the next-generation Aegis ships, which was launched in July of last year and will be deployed in the second half of 2025. The three existing Aegis ships, including the King Sejong, can also be equipped with SM-6 if they are upgraded. It is reported that the military will introduce a total of 100 SM-6s between 2025 and 2031. The SM-6 can intercept a variety of targets, including ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles, as well as aircraft. It can fly at more than 3.5 times the maximum speed of sound, rise to an altitude of 35 km, and have a maximum range of about 460 km.
The SM-6 primarily performs the mission of intercepting North Korean ballistic missiles flying toward South Korean ships or U.S. ships near the Korean Peninsula. Protecting our Navy’s mobile battle group, which consists of Aegis ships, destroyers, and logistics support ships, from North Korean nuclear missile attacks. In case of emergency, ground interception of North Korean nuclear missile attacks targeting our military command center, major ROK-US military bases, and infrastructure such as nuclear power plants using Patriot, medium-range surface-to-air missiles (M-SAM), and the US Forces Korea’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system. It also plays a role in defense along with the system.
Inside and outside the military, there is also a need to introduce SM-3 missiles with interception capabilities at higher altitudes to effectively respond to provocations such as high-angle launches of North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) or submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). SM-3, which is installed on Aegis ships, can destroy enemy ballistic missiles up to an altitude of 500 km. The U.S.-Japanese Aegis warships have deployed the improved SM-3, which has a maximum interception altitude of 1,200 km.
According to the information and photos released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency on this day, saying that it had successfully tested a solid engine for a new IRBM, it is likely that the solid engine for this IRBM is an improved propellant (engine) of the existing new ICBM Hwaseong-18 type. Korea and the United States believe that only the engine size and thrust were ‘downsized’. Lee Sang-min, head of the North Korean Military Research Department at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyzes (KIDA), said, “There are low technical barriers to reducing the large solid engine for the Hwasong-18 to medium- to short-range use.”
Since Chairman Kim Jong-un took power, North Korea has been replacing liquid-propelled ballistic missiles with solid missiles with a high surprise effect. Previously, short-range missiles (SRBMs) for striking South Korea, including the North Korean version of the Iskander (KN-23), were completed and deployed, and the Hwasong-18 model, which can hit anywhere on the U.S. mainland, was successfully tested. Now, they plan to replace even IRBMs with solid engines. Unlike liquid engines, solid engines do not require prior fuel injection, significantly shortening launch time. It is not easy for South Korea and the United States to detect signs of launch during the fuel injection process through satellites.
Shin Jong-woo, secretary general of the Korea Defense Security Forum, analyzed, “The new IRBM is intended to target US military bases in Guam and Alaska.” The IRBM’s range is 3,500-5,000 km, making it a weapon optimized for striking Guam (about 3,500 km) based on Pyongyang’s standards. A military official assessed, “We are trying to complete the ‘trinity of solid nuclear weapons’ by developing a new solid engine IRBM following SRBM and ICBM.”
Military reporter Sang-ho Yoon ysh1005@donga.com
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.