TechIs North Korea's new missile test a new hypersonic threat?

Is North Korea's new missile test a new hypersonic threat?

Hwasong-16 is probably not yet ready to be classified as an IRBM.

Images source: © Korean Central News Agency

24 April 2024 21:39

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has revealed a new type of North Korean ballistic missile capable of supersonic speeds. On April 3, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the Academy of Defence Science carried out a test on the solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile Hwasong-16Na (also known as Hwasong-16B).

The test was attended by the leader, Kim Jong Un, alongside the Vice Chairman of the Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jong Sik, and the Director of the Missile Administration of the Academy of Defence Science, General Jang Chang Ha, adding a layer of propaganda to the event.

Kim Jong Un has a new deterrent

The test, featuring a missile armed with a hypersonic gliding warhead, aimed to verify the weapon's technical specifications and reliability. However, details about the event are sparse, as information from Pyongyang is often selective and difficult to verify. In a repeat of past practices, the authorities did not disclose the missile's speed, leading to speculation.

Initially, state media reported that the warhead's range was limited to approximately 1,000 kilometres to control speed and trajectory by delaying the engine's second stage start. The missile reached an altitude of around 100 kilometres before the warhead, equipped with a hypersonic gliding missile, separated and ascended to about 72 kilometres, then glided towards its target.

On the contrary, the Japanese Coast Guard and the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff reported shorter distances covered by the missile, with estimates of about 650 and 600 kilometres, respectively. According to these sources, the missile was launched near Pyongyang and flew eastward for nearly 12 minutes.

This announcement marks the third type of hypersonic weapon developed by North Korea. Previous tests of such armaments were reported in September 2021 and July 2023. The early tests showed unsatisfactory results that required improvements, with significant advancements in distance covered and speeds achieved in subsequent tests.

The recent test in early April showcases North Korea's advancing missile technology amid deepening cooperation with Russia. This test is significant as it combines solid-fuel rockets and ballistic missiles with combat heads capable of controlled manoeuvres and active homing, showcasing a leap in military capabilities.

Kim's missiles could be a threat not only to Guam but also to Wake, an atoll in the Pacific Ocean, which in the event of a possible conflict with the PRC would play a significant role.© Korean Central News Agency

If North Korean hypersonic missiles can reach intermediate ranges, they could potentially target American infrastructure in Asia, including military bases on Guam. However, the recent tests do not yet demonstrate the capability to reach such distances under operational conditions.

Ankit Panda, a nuclear weapons expert, noted that the photos suggest the IRBM is equipped with MaRV, which enables manoeuvres before hitting the target. The recent cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, especially in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war, highlights North Korea's step-by-step approach to enhancing its military capabilities that could threaten American interests in the Pacific. Though, for now, its immediate influence remains centred on South Korea and Japan, the test of Hwasong-16Na carries broader regional security implications.