Analyst: North Korea's military parade shows ICBM is in 'final stages'

Record ID: 1735737

  • Title: Analyst: North Korea's military parade shows ICBM is in 'final stages'
  • Date: 28th July 2023
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JULY 28, 2023) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) RESEARCH FELLOW AT KOREA INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE ANALYSES (KIDA), SHIN SEUNG-KI, SAYING: “(North Korea) showed Hwasong-18 at the military parade in order to emphasise once more to the United States that (Hwasong-18) is their solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is successful in test fires.” WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) RESEARCH FELLOW AT KOREA INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE ANALYSES (KIDA), SHIN SEUNG-KI, SAYING: "Hwasong-17 was unveiled with different colourings (at the military parade). It changed from a white colour painted background to a camouflage pattern with dark green colour, which is to make any identification harder. The fact that they (North Korea) painted it (Hwasong-17) with camouflage colours shows that they are in the final stages of development and heading to the process of actual deployment." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) RESEARCH FELLOW AT KOREA INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE ANALYSES (KIDA), SHIN SEUNG-KI, SAYING: "After the failure at the previous test fire of (the hypersonic glide vehicle) Hwasong-8, North Korea appeared to change the shape of it based on multiple simulations and wind tunnel tests, so that it can be more efficient when manoeuvring with more lift force for hypersonic gliding and re-leaping. In that sense, the one that was unveiled (at this parade) is expected to be test fired soon." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) RESEARCH FELLOW AT KOREA INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE ANALYSES (KIDA), SHIN SEUNG-KI, SAYING: “If North Korea, China and Russia are under pressure by a democratic security alliance led by the United States, they might be trying to show off more that they have a military security alliance bloc to resist against it.” WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) RESEARCH FELLOW AT KOREA INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE ANALYSES (KIDA), SHIN SEUNG-KI, SAYING: “Since Russia now has insufficient military equipment or ammunition due to the war with Ukraine, I would say that North Korea also has the intention of export sales by showing them (Russia) that it’s producing various types of missiles and able to provide them (weapons), after (the news report emerged) of North Korea providing ammunition to Russia."
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2023 08:55
  • Keywords: ICBM North Korea Pyongyang military missile parade
  • Location: PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA / SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA / SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: North Korea
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA002056828072023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: SEE 0613-NORTHKOREA-ANNIVERSARY/ICBM-DRONE, 0606-NORTHKOREA-ANNIVERSARY/MILITARY PARADE, AND 0567-NORTHKOREA-ANNIVERSARY/MILITARY PARADE-STILLS FOR PARADE MATERIAL
    North Korea’s advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) could be in the “final stages of development”, a defence expert said on Friday (July 28) as state media released images of a widely anticipated military parade that showcased the country’s latest weapons.
    “(North Korea) showed Hwasong-18 at the military parade in order to emphasise once more to the United States that (Hwasong-18) is their solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is successful in test fires,” said Shin Seung-ki, a research fellow at the Kore Institute for Defense Analyses.
    Pyongyang's latest Hwasong-17 and Hwasong-18 ICBMs are believed to be capable of striking targets anywhere in the United States. A flyover by new attack and spy drones was held and 'Haeil', a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone, was also displayed.
    Shin said the Hwasong-17 which had been shown as a white missile before was now painted in camouflage, signalling it was likely being readied for deployment.
    The parade was held Thursday night (July 27) to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, which is celebrated in North Korea as "Victory Day".
    Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong were guests of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the parade. Shoigu's visit was the first by Moscow's top defence official since the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union, while the Chinese delegation’s attendance was the country's first since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
    Their appearance at events with the North's nuclear missiles - banned by the United Nations Security Council with Chinese and Russian support - marked a contrast with previous years, when Beijing and Moscow sought to distance themselves from their neighbour's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development
    “If North Korea, China and Russia are under pressure by a democratic security alliance led by the United States, they might be trying to show off more that they have a military security alliance bloc to resist against it," Shin said.
    On Wednesday (July 26), Kim and Shoigu visited a defence exhibition where the neighbours pledged to boost ties, according to state news agency KCNA.
    In its report, KCNA did not refer to the war in Ukraine but quoted North Korean Defence Minister Kang Sun Nam as saying that Pyongyang fully supported Russia's "battle for justice" and protection of its sovereignty.
    (Production: Minwoo Park, Jimin Jung)
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