 |
| (Pyongyang Labor Newspaper=News1) = The Labor Newspaper, an agency of the North Korean Labor Party, reported on 1-11 pages of the news of a feverish ceremony held on October 10, 2020 in celebration of its 75th anniversary. The newspaper unveiled a large number of new weapons at the fever ceremony that day. The new ICBM, which was unveiled on this day, was loaded on 11 axes (22 wheels) longer than the 9-axis (18-wheel) mobile launch vehicle (TEL) on which the Hwaseong-15 was carried, and was released in the last order. [국내에서만 사용가능. 재배포 금지. DB 금지. For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. Redistribution Prohibited] [email protected] |
North Korea may soon begin flight testing of an improved intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), said North American Aerospace Defense Command Commander Glen Van Huck.
According to Reuters news agency on the 16th (local time), in a written testimony submitted to the Senate Military Committee, Commander Van Huck said that North Korea’s ICBM would be “bigger and perform better”. “This will increase the threat to the United States.” said. However, he showed confidence in the US missile defense.
He also noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un destroyed the nuclear test moratorium (suspended) on his own.
“The North Korean regime has indicated that it will no longer be bound by the unilateral nuclear/ICBM test moratorium announced in 2018. This suggests that sooner or later, Chairman Kim may start an ICBM flight test with an improved design. He said
Commander Van Huck’s warning appears to be based on the ICBM that North Korea unveiled in a parade last October. There is no specific information on whether or not the launch is imminent.
However, Van Huck came out one day before the first visit by Secretary of State Tony Brunken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Korea. It can be interpreted as emphasizing the US concern that North Korea could resume testing missiles and nuclear weapons after breaking the gap for more than three years.
Chairman Kim urged the continued production of nuclear weapons even while the nuclear test was lull, fired a series of small missiles, and unveiled the ICBM.
“I don’t know what level of possibility it is,” said Jenny Town, head of the 38 North, USA, who tracks North Korea’s trends.
Instead, he predicted that North Korea was more likely to resume test firings with short-range missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
A US official who requested anonymity said that in recent weeks there have been signs that North Korea is preparing to launch a missile, but that it has not yet looked imminent.