North Korea conducted a test of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), dubbed the Hwasong-19, on Thursday. According to North Korean state media, this latest missile is “the world’s strongest strategic missile.” The launch has intensified global tension, particularly as accusations circulate that North Korean troops have been deployed in support of Russia’s war in Ukraine. This development has further strained Pyongyang’s already contentious relationship with the West, sparking condemnation from countries around the world and a series of new sanctions from South Korea.
The Hwasong-19 ICBM appears to represent a significant advancement in North Korea’s missile technology. The missile flew higher and longer than any previous North Korean test, reaching an altitude of 7,687.5 kilometers—more than twice the distance of the International Space Station from Earth. After a 5,156-second journey, it descended into the sea between Japan and Russia, its trajectory tracked by military forces in South Korea and Japan.
The Hwasong-19’s power is its solid-fuel propulsion, an improvement on the liquid-fuel systems previously used in many of North Korea’s earlier missiles. Solid-fuel missiles offer several strategic advantages:
- Enhanced Mobility: Unlike liquid-fuel missiles, which require lengthy fueling procedures, solid-fuel missiles can be launched at short notice, making them harder to track.
- Extended Range: Increased fuel capacity allows for greater thrust and potentially expanded reach.
- Multiple Warhead Capacity: The larger payload section suggests that the Hwasong-19 could carry multiple nuclear warheads, which may be capable of targeting several locations simultaneously.
Photos released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed the multi-stage missile launched from a canister mounted on a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) vehicle. Further images from cameras attached to the missile captured stage separations, offering a rare glimpse of North Korea’s missile technology in action.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, present at the launch, expressed that the missile’s success solidified North Korea’s status as a nuclear power, “absolutely irreversible” in its capabilities to deter the United States and other adversaries. This launch, in proximity to the upcoming U.S. presidential election, appears carefully timed to communicate North Korea’s strategic message to Washington.
While North Korea’s missile program has long been a point of contention, this test was conducted against the backdrop of another controversy: allegations that North Korean troops have been deployed to aid Russia in Ukraine. This reported support, though not confirmed by Russia or North Korea, has drawn significant criticism from international leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who publicly lambasted his allies for what he deemed an insufficient response to North Korea’s involvement.
The alleged alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow underscores the evolving nature of North Korea’s foreign relations, raising concerns that Russia might provide military technology to North Korea in exchange for manpower. This scenario could accelerate Pyongyang’s technological development, particularly in areas where Russian advancements in missiles and nuclear systems could be useful. However, some experts, including Kim Dong-yup from the University of North Korean Studies, doubt that Russia would share its most sensitive technologies, even if a military cooperation framework exists between the two nations.
South Korea, for its part, has swiftly responded with new sanctions on 11 North Korean officials and four entities involved in the missile development program and financial operations for the regime. The move underscores South Korea’s commitment to countering North Korea’s advancing arsenal.
North Korea’s latest launch has not only unsettled its immediate neighbors but also triggered reactions from Washington, the United Nations, and Europe. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin indicated that the Pentagon is conducting an assessment of the missile test but clarified that there is currently no indication of direct Russian involvement in the launch.
“This missile underwrites North Korea’s growing credibility as a nuclear power,” said Ankit Panda, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Panda believes that Kim Jong Un intended the launch to convey North Korea’s capability directly to the U.S. and its allies, sending a message of deterrence and power projection. This sentiment has found resonance in Japan and South Korea, where officials have expressed concerns that Pyongyang’s growing arsenal is now firmly aimed at maintaining a military balance of power in the region and beyond.
South Korean officials suggested the test could be an effort to distract from the issue of North Korean troops potentially fighting in Ukraine, showing a willingness to put on a display of military strength when under diplomatic pressure. The launch coincides with a heightened geopolitical moment, as the U.S. prepares for its presidential election, underscoring the strategic intent behind North Korea’s timing.
North Korea’s move towards solid-fuel ICBMs has been closely monitored by military analysts worldwide. Unlike liquid-fuel missiles, solid-fuel weapons do not require fueling just before launch, which significantly reduces the time adversaries have to detect, track, and respond to a potential launch. This advancement in North Korea’s missile technology could have far-reaching implications:
- Improved Stealth: The Hwasong-19 can be stored and transported without immediate detection, allowing for increased mobility and survivability.
- Faster Launch Time: Shorter launch preparation times make these missiles harder to intercept or destroy preemptively.
- Operational Flexibility: Solid-fuel missiles are more resilient in varying operational environments, providing North Korea with enhanced deterrence.
According to KCNA, the Hwasong-19 will join the Hwasong-18 in North Korea’s ICBM arsenal, both solid-fuel missiles designed for rapid response and long-range attack capabilities. Experts believe this strategic combination will significantly enhance North Korea’s ability to maintain a credible nuclear threat.
“Solid fuel represents a step-change in North Korea’s deterrence strategy,” explained Kim of the University of North Korean Studies. “It offers excellent mobility, stealth, and survivability,” making it an even more formidable component of Pyongyang’s military assets.
In addition to ground-based tracking systems, intelligence agencies in South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. have increasingly turned to satellite imagery to monitor North Korea’s missile development. Photos of the Hwasong-19 launch reveal a multi-stage missile that may be capable of carrying heavier payloads over longer distances, a capability that allows for the possibility of multiple warheads targeting different locations. Military experts assert that further testing would be necessary to verify if the missile can achieve multiple independent target reentry, a capability that would place it in the same league as some of the world’s most advanced nuclear powers.
Yet, questions remain about the North’s ability to reliably guide a nuclear warhead through the reentry process, which involves extreme heat and pressure as the missile descends back into the atmosphere. While Kim Jong Un has lauded his nation’s advancements, experts caution that practical challenges remain.
The launch of the Hwasong-19 places a significant strain on North Korea’s relations with the U.S. and its allies. While diplomatic efforts to engage with Pyongyang over the last decade have yielded few results, the missile launch and reported troop involvement in Ukraine highlight a hardening of North Korea’s stance on the international stage.
The U.N. Secretary-General condemned the missile test, echoing concerns from the international community about the implications of North Korea’s increasing military collaboration with Russia. Furthermore, Pyongyang’s growing arsenal has added urgency to regional defense discussions in East Asia. Japan, which is within the range of many North Korean missiles, has intensified its defense policies in response to perceived threats.
As North Korea continues to enhance its arsenal, regional powers are left in a precarious position, grappling with the potential consequences of an increasingly assertive Pyongyang. South Korea’s decision to impose additional sanctions reflects a willingness to escalate economic and diplomatic measures, even as the success of such efforts remains uncertain.
