On 15th January 2024 North Korea declared the testing of a solid-fueled medium-ranged hypersonic missile, equipped with more powerful and harder to detect weapons aiming to hit distant US targets in the region. According to North Korea’s official media’s (KCNA) reports, South Korea and Japan already detected the testing near to Pyongyang one day before. At the same time, this has been North Korea’s first testing in 2024.[i]
North Korea announced two months ago it has successfully tested engines for solid-fueled and medium-ranged missiles. According to the statement made by KCNA, the purpose of the launch made on January 14th of 2024 was to verify the reliability of the engines and maneuvering capacity of the hypersonic warhead. KCNA described the testing as successful but did not provide any information about flight details. KCNA, did not indicated whether to North Korea leader Kim Jong-un was present during the test and pointed out that it is a part of the country’s regular weapon development activity.[ii]
North Korea’s general staff reported, the missile flew 1.000 kilometers in the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan and landed afterwards. Current medium range missiles of Pyongyang are powered by liquid-fuel engines, including the Hwasong-12, capable of reaching the US military base in the Pacific and Guam. Missiles equipped with solid fuel can be made ready for launch faster and is easier to move and hide. Theoretically, this makes it difficult to detect and prevent.[iii]
At the same time Pyongyang has been testing hypersonic weapons since 2021, which are reaching a speed above the Mach 5. Perfectioning these could pose a potential challenge for regional missile defense systems due to their speed and maneuverability. [iv]
Experts stated, it is unknown if North Kore’s hypersonic vehicles maintained the intended speed constantly during the 2021 and 2022 tests. However, Pyongyang’s efforts developing new medium range ballistic missiles simultaneously with trying to build a hypersonic weapon system pushed by solid-fueled rocket, leads to thinking that there will be more test flights soon.[v]
South Korean Ministry of Defense published a statement demanding that Pyongyang stop the ballistic testing activities which violate the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Besides, South Korea claimed that South Korea military maintains a tight joint defense posture with the allied US and that they are ready to respond “overwhelmingly” in the event of direct provocation. Moreover, the US and South Korea governments claim that North Korea is supplying weapons, including artillery and missiles to Russia which supports to prolong the invasion in Ukraine. The administration of Biden said that they have evidence for Russia using missiles in the war they received from North Korea. Moscow and Pyongyang, both rejected the accusation about weapon transfer from North Korea to Russia. [vi]
North Korea fired in the beginning of January 2024 artillery near to the controversial west sea border with South Korea. This led to regulations by Seoul doing similar fire practices. Last week Kim identified South Korea as the main enemy of North Korea.
North Korea’s work on hypersonic missiles could increase the potential to pose a more effective threat to regional missile defense systems. Because of their speed and maneuverability, hypersonic missiles can overcome conventional defense systems.
South Korea and Japan determining these missile tests, can increase security doubts. US and allies could condemn the activities of North Korea and build up pressure to increase sanctions, based on violating UNSC resolutions.
Kim Jong-un’s recently increasing weapon exercises has the potential to strain relations with South Korea and the United States. This situation can have an impact on political and security tensions in regions.
North Korea’s interests in hypersonic weapons, multi headed missiles and other advanced military technologies indicates that the country has an intention to change regional balance of power.
North Korea’s alleged weapon cooperation with Russia can lead to national and international complications. This can be a strategic effort to stabilize North Korea’s geopolitical position.
As a result, North Korea’s ballistic missile test is an important development, hat may have an impact on change regions security dynamics. This incident attracts the attention of international community and could have a potential impact on security balance in the region.
[i] “North Korea Says It Tested a Solid-Fuel Missile Tipped with a Hypersonic Weapon”, Associated Press News, https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-solidfuel-irbm-hypersonic-missile-8f0d9641b00d117b34707975cfd08242, (Date of Access: 15.01.2024).
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] “North Korea Says It Tested a Solid-Fuel Missile Tipped with a Hypersonic Weapon”, ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/north-korea-tested-solid-fuel-missile-tipped-hypersonic-106369019, (Date of Access: 15.01.2024).
[iv] Ibid.
[v] “North Korea Claims to Have Fired Solid-Fuel Hypersonic Missile in Latest Weapons Test”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/15/north-korea-hypersonic-missile-claims-solid-fuel-pyongyang, (Date of Access: 15.01.2024).
[vi] Ibid.
