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The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s military forces performed a significant test on January 14th, successfully launching a solid-fuel hypersonic missile. According to reports, the missile reached an impressive altitude of nearly 100 km (62 miles) and covered a distance of 1,000 km (621 miles). /News1
Amidst ongoing tensions with North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Un, the international community has been closely monitoring advancements in the country’s missile capabilities, particularly following the recent successful testing of a new hypersonic missile equipped with solid fuel.
◇ Two Distinct Types of Hypersonic Missiles in North Korea’s Arsenal: Stingray and Cone-Shaped Variants
According to a report by the Rodong Sinmun on January 15th, North Korea announced the successful test of a medium-range ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic maneuvering warhead on the previous day. Details on the exact parameters of the launch, such as peak altitude and travel distance, were not made public.
Hypersonic missiles, defined by their capability to exceed five times the speed of sound (Mach 5), are part of North Korea’s expanding armaments. The country has conducted such missile tests in years ranging from 2011 to 2022, including an initial test on September 28th, 2021, which achieved an altitude of 30 km (19 miles) and flew 500 km (311 miles). Another test on January 11th, 2022, resulted in a maximum altitude of 60 km (37 miles) and a range of 700 km (435 miles), per analyses from South Korea and Japan.
The Hwasong-8 hypersonic missile, showcased in a military parade, resembles China’s DF-17 with its distinct stingray-shaped warhead that enables gliding. Its inaugural launch in September 2021 did not succeed. /News1
However, North Korea claimed a striking distance of 1,000 km for its latest test launch. Prior to this test, a missile launched on January 5th, 2022, had a peak altitude of 50 km (31 miles) and covered 700 km (435 miles). North Korea has revealed two key hypersonic missile types: the Hwasong-8 with a stingray warhead and the Hwasong-11 Na featuring a cone-shaped warhead. The stingray type, akin to China’s operational DF-17, was tested only once and is believed to have been unsuccessful.
◇ Confirmation by U.S. Intelligence of North Korean Hypersonic Missile’s 1,000 km Travel Distance
North Korea has hailed both launches of the cone-shaped missile in 2022 as “complete successes,” marking a significant advancement by employing solid fuel instead of liquid for the rocket’s initial propulsion. The inherent advantage of solid fuel lies in its capacity for rapid, unexpected launches, representing a strategic challenge for South Korea and the U.S. due to the shortened reaction time.
The most recent launch by North Korea demonstrates enhancements in missile technology, evidenced by a claimed flight distance of 1,000 km, although no official maximum altitude data was released. Contrastingly, Japan’s Defense Ministry reported a maximum altitude of just 50 km and a flight distance of 500 km, a stark discrepancy from the claims of the Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Reports revealed that Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission supervised the successful test-firing of a hypersonic missile by the North Korean National Defense Science Institute in January 2022. /Korean Central News Agency Yonhap News
Despite the shared intelligence on North Korean missile activities between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, differences in reporting have emerged. Japan’s assessments suggest a shorter distance traveled due to the missile’s low-altitude and irregular flight path, which rendered it undetectable beyond 500 km. Considering the Earth’s curvature, tracking the missile’s entire trajectory remains challenging for observers. Ascertaining its full range, beyond the initial 500 km, continues to prompt inquiry.
To be continued in part 2…
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is a hypersonic missile?
A: A hypersonic missile is a projectile that can travel at speeds faster than five times the speed of sound (Mach 5).
Q2: What are the two types of hypersonic missiles North Korea has tested?
A: North Korea has tested the Hwasong-8, which has a stingray-shaped warhead, and the Hwasong-11 Na, which features a cone-shaped warhead.
Q3: Why is solid fuel significant for missile technology?
A: Solid fuel allows for more rapid and unexpected missile launches, posing a strategic threat due to limited response time for defense systems.
Q4: What are the discrepancies between various reports on North Korea’s missile test?
A: While the Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff claimed a flight distance of 1,000 km, Japan’s Defense Ministry reported a maximum altitude of 50 km and a flight distance of 500 km, indicating a discrepancy in the observed data.
Q5: Who oversees North Korea’s missile tests?
A: Kim Jong Un, the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, has been reported to oversee missile tests, including the hypersonic missile tests.
Conclusion
The continued development and successful testing of hypersonic missiles by North Korea, including the recent launch of a solid-fuel variant, underscore the persistent advancements in North Korea’s military capabilities and the complexities these pose to regional security. With details still emerging and variations in reporting from various military and intelligence sources, the global community remains vigilant in assessing the implications of these developments.
