Nuclear Strike Anywhere on the American Continent … Possibility of Disclosing an Ultra-Large Liquid-Fuel ICBM

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Attention is being drawn to the reality of the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which North Korea is supposed to present at the Labor Party’s 75th anniversary ceremony (military parade) on the 10th. This is because it is very likely make it a technologically advanced model with greater reach and warhead weight compared to the existing Hwaseong-14 (ICBM class) and 15 (ICBM) models.

The intelligence authorities of the Republic of Korea and the United States are known to be mobilizing information assets such as satellites to keep track of North Korea’s preparations for a feverish meal. It is based on the judgment that there is a high possibility that the “new strategic weapon” mentioned earlier this year by the chairman of the North Korean State Council, Kim Jong-un, will be released.

At present, the observation that the Hwaseong-14 · 15-type liquid fuel engine (Baekdusan engine) has been upgraded and increased in size is weighed on the observation that it will be an ICBM. The ‘ultra-large liquid-fueled ICBM’ that can be hit anywhere in the continental United States with a nuclear warhead weighing up to 800 kg is said to be unleashed. This situation is also supported by the fact that the situation was captured where the new ICBM, which was captured at the Pyongyang Mirim airfield fever training site, was loaded into a mobile launch vehicle (TEL ) with more than 9 axles (18 in total). Young-geun Jang, a professor at Aviation University, said: “It seems likely that the ICBM would have increased the range and weight of the warhead by replacing the first and second stage engines used in Hwaseong-14 · 15 with high performance”. Considering North Korea’s technological prowess, it means that it has not yet reached the level of completing solid-fuel ICBMs that can be launched immediately without fuel injection.

However, as North Korea carried out a series of new engine combustion tests at the Dongchang-ri test site late last year, and the development situation of solid fuel engines was captured steadily. , the possibility that the development of an ICBM-class solid fuel engine was near or completed cannot be excluded. The possibility of the disclosure of the multiple warhead intercontinental ballistic missile (MIRV) is also raised. Various ICBM warhead missiles are capable of launching multiple nuclear warheads on different targets. If North Korea has this, it will be possible to simultaneously attack Washington and New York. However, the core device of the multi-warhead ICBM is a post-propellant (PBV) that burns longer than first- and second-stage propellants and precisely guides each warhead to a different target. . The submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) detected by US reconnaissance satellites in the Sinpo area of ​​South Hamgyeong province is believed to be of the North Star-3 type or an enhanced type with a longer range. Intelligence authorities are also paying attention to the possibility of launching it on an existing submarine or on a new submarine (estimated class 4000-5000t) which is expected to progress in the near future. An intelligence official said: “After the launch of the new ICBM in a feverish ceremony, a scenario of pressure against the United States is expected to launch an SLBM aimed at the US presidential elections (November 3).” There is also the possibility of launching a missile provocation immediately after the feverish ceremony, as in April 2017. At that time, North Korea mobilized strategic weapons such as ICBMs on the largest scale during President Kim’s visit, and fired a suspected Type 2 ballistic missile in the Sinpo area the day after Taeyangjeol (Kim Il-sung’s birthday, April 15). It exploded in midair in 4-5 seconds.

In addition, the information authorities are also paying attention to the possibility of President Kim attending the party’s founding ceremony and delivering a public speech. On the 9th, the labor newspaper reported that party executives, including the First Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Committee, Choi Ryong-hae, the Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Committee, Park Bong-ju, and Prime Minister Kim Deok-hoon , they said: “I visited the Sun Palace on Geumsu Mountain on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the party.” It was reported that only ‘basket’ was sent. President Kim refused to attend the Geumsusan Solar Palace on the date of its establishment only twice in 2014 and 2016 after taking power in 2012. Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the North Korean Graduate School, said : “We cannot rule out the possibility of preparing a speech by Byeong-sik at the point where (North Korea) has concentrated all its capabilities to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the party.

Another analysis suggests that the fact that Lee Byeong-cheol, vice chairman of the Party’s Central Military Committee, who was North Korea’s main developer of nuclear weapons and ICBMs, was not mentioned in the worship group at the Palace of the Geumsusan sun on this day is not irrelevant to the fact that you are planning a large-scale event at the ceremony.

Military reporter Yun Sang-ho [email protected], reporter Han Ki-jae