Following North Korea’s test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, the state-run KCTV news agency released a statement designating the missile as the Hwasong-15. Of note, the statement also claimed the missile is “tipped with [a] super-large heavy warhead” and can reach any portion of the continental United States. The statement elaborated: “The development and advancement...
On November 28, North Korea conducted what is believed to be its third test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Launched from the vicinity of Pyongsong, South Pyongan Province, the missile flew for 50 minutes before landing in the Sea of Japan in Japan’s exclusive economic zone. The South Korean military said the missile reached...
38 North, a North Korea monitoring group, has released satellite imagery of the Sinpo South Shipyard indicating the country is pursuing “an aggressive schedule to build and deploy its first operational ballistic missile submarine.” Taken on November 5, the images show sections of a submarine’s hull that possibly will be used for North Korea’s SINPO-C...
North Korea has reportedly conducted a static test of a “new” type of solid fuel engine. Believed to have been tested at Hamhung on the country’s eastern coast, the engine was evaluated in a horizontal configuration, unlike previous tests of liquid fuel engines. North Korea is known to have developed two solid fuel missiles, the...
In early August 2017, North Korea announced plans to launch four intermediate-range ballistic missiles towards the waters surrounding Guam — perhaps 30 or 40 kilometers from the island’s coast.
On September 15, North Korea fired what is believed to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido for the second time in a month. Launched from Sunan just north of Pyongyang, the missile flew for 19 minutes, traveling 3,700 km, reaching an altitude of 770 km, and landing 2,200...
On September 3, North Korea successfully tested what state-run news outlets called a “two-stage thermonuclear weapon.” The underground explosion at the northeastern Punggye-ri nuclear test site produced a 6.3 magnitude artificial earthquake according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Estimates of the yield have ranged from between 50 and 60 kilotons, according to South Korea’s weather...
On Saturday, August 26, North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) from Kittaeryong, in its southeast Kangwon province. Initial reports from South Korea stated that a Multiple Launch Rocket System was used to fire 300-mm rockets. South Korean military officials revised this initial assessment after joint evaluations with the United States and now assesses...
On August 28, North Korea flew what is believed to a be a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The missile was launched shortly before 6 a.m. Japan local time, and reportedly traveled over 2,700 km before landing in the Pacific Ocean. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the missile...
On August 17, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and Foreign Minister Taro Kono met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to discuss the possible acquisition of an Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system. Following a succession of North Korean missile tests, the Japanese Defense Ministry has accelerated its...
