Kim Jong-un inspecting the Hwasong-17.
SEOUL, SINGAPORE–Pyongyang claims it successfully test fired the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on the morning of Nov. 18.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) reported that the missile flew for 1,000 km (600 mi.), reaching a maximum speed of Mach 22.
North Korean state media KCNA added that the flight time was 4,135 sec.
The Hwasong-17 is North Korea’s largest ICBM to date. An unnamed South Korean military source said this test can be considered a success, given the flight time. The JSC said the two-stage propulsion operated successfully, but the performance of the missile’s Post Boost Vehicle was not verified. A Nov. 3 launch ended in failure.
Several Korean media outlets, including Chosun Ilbo, reported that the Hwasong-17, with an estimated range of 15,000 km, has demonstrated its ability to strike the U.S. mainland.
In response to the missile test, Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) F-35As conducted a training mission simulating the destruction of an ICBM transporter erector launcher with GBU-12 laser-guided bombs.
According to an unnamed industry source, the ROKAF hopes to acquire other air-to-ground weapons capable of attacking moving targets, such as MBDA’s Spear 3 or Raytheon’s Small Diameter Bomb II.
North Korea has upped the pressure in recent months, vowing a “fierce” military response to the U.S. extending its military support to South Korea and Japan, as well as holding wargames that Pyongyang called a rehearsal for an invasion.
At the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, China was urged by South Korean and UK leaders to use its unique leverage over North Korea to clamp down on its missile launch testing and a potential seventh nuclear test.
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