Lack of technical difficulty compared to Chinese, Russian and US hypersonic missiles
Hope for Russian technical support to develop terminal control sensor
Aimed at neutralizing missile defenses at the U.S. military base in Guam at a distance of 3,300 km.
38 NORTH, an American media outlet specializing in North Korea, reported on the 18th that the solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that North Korea test-fired on the 14th appears to be a new type of missile equipped with mobile re-entry nuclear warheads (MaRVs) that are difficult to defend against. (local time) reported.
In an article he contributed to 38 North on this day, Van Van Dippen, an American missile expert, pointed out that the new missile used the first and second stage rockets of the Hwaseong-18, a solid intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Defen emphasized that the use of the Hwasong-18 rocket, which has already been developed, was intended to speed up the development of new missiles, and that given precedent, there is a possibility that North Korea will conduct one or two more test launches before deploying the new missile.
Defen pointed out that MaRVs, which were mounted on small missiles in 2022, were mounted on the new missile test-launched this time, and that this was intended to neutralize the United States’ move to strengthen missile defense against Guam, which is 3,300 km away from North Korea.
Since there are not many targets in North Korea that are far away from IRBM ranges (1000-3000km) and intercontinental ballistic missiles (more than 5500km), it is unclear whether North Korea will deploy the already developed liquid fuel missile Hwasong-12 IRBM together with the newly developed missile. It was analyzed as still unknown.
Defen said that the warhead of the missile that North Korea test-fired this time is pointed and has wings, identical to the warhead of the Hwasong-12 liquid fuel IRBM that was test-fired on January 5 and 11, 2022.
He analyzed that it is not clear how much progress has been made in the maneuvering test of the warhead that North Korea described as a “hypersonic glide vehicle.”
Defen said North Korea’s MaRVs are different from the booster glide vehicles (BSVs) used by “hypersonic missiles” in China, Russia and the United States, and that MaRVs are not technically difficult compared to BSVs, which have a greater range and intensity of anomalous maneuver throughout the missile’s trajectory. explained.
He assessed that North Korea is trying to develop MaRVs equipped with end-stage sensors that increase the accuracy, but has not yet developed sensors suitable for IRBMs, and analyzed that this is an area in which North Korea would like technical support from Russia.
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.