North Korea Announced the successful test launch of its latest intercontinental ballistic missile”Mars 19”, state media called it “the most powerful missile in the world.”
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the new missile demonstrated a higher altitude and flight time, bringing it one step closer to Pyongyang’s target. nuclear capable It is possible that intercontinental ballistic missiles could reach the United States.
The North Korean Central News Agency named the missile the “Hwasong-19” intercontinental ballistic missile, calling it “the most powerful strategic missile in the world” and a “perfect weapon system.”
Although South Korean military officials hinted at the possibility of a solid-fuel missile test, the KCNA report did not specify the type of propellant used by Hwasong-19. Experts say the exhaust flames in the official photos indicate the possible use of solid fuel technology, which would allow for faster launch and improved concealment. Prior to this test, the Hwasong-18 was North Korea’s most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile.
Unlike liquid-fueled missiles, solid-fueled missiles are preloaded with propellant, allowing for faster launch and greater confidentiality by reducing visible preparation time. The technological leap would mark a shift from North Korea’s previously top-tier intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-18, to a model with potentially higher readiness and improved stealth.
Kim Jong Un The launch ceremony was watched with his daughter Kim Joo-ae, whom Seoul intelligence identified as his potential successor. Kim Jong Un hailed the test as an “appropriate military action” given the threats to North Korea’s security and praised the work of scientists and engineers involved in strengthening the country’s “unparalleled strategic nuclear attack capabilities.”
While North Korea’s ability to strike South Korea with nuclear weapons has not been questioned, its ability to effectively reach the U.S. mainland remains in question. Technical challenges such as re-entry vehicle protection, guidance system improvements and the ability to deploy multiple warheads still hinder North Korea’s ability to strike countries further afield.
The timing of the launch appeared strategic, taking place ahead of the U.S. presidential election and amid international criticism over North Korea’s alleged deployment of troops to Russia in response to the conflict in Ukraine.
U.S. officials report that approximately 8,000 North Korean troops are stationed near the Russian-Ukrainian border. The test came shortly after U.S. and South Korean defense officials urged North Korea to withdraw its troops from Russia.
