Korea conducted a confirmed test launch of a ballistic missile, believed to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) utilizing the solid-fuel propulsion system, towards the East Sea early morning on the 26th. However, the missile failed to complete its normal flight. This marks the third consecutive provocation following the dispersal of garbage balloons towards South Korea.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the South Korean military detected a ballistic missile launched by North Korea from around Pyongyang towards the East Sea at around 5:30 AM that morning. The missile was launched from a mobile launcher (TEL). The South Korean military estimates that the military traveled approximately 155 miles towards the uninhabited Al Island in the waters off North Hamgyong Province before exploding mid-air and falling into the sea off Wonsan, Kangwon Province.
A military official suggested that the missile might be a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) powered by solid fuel, saying, “There’s a possibility. North Korea claimed successful test flights after verifying the reliability of the solid propellant engine in January and April. We suspect they might have tested something more advanced this time.”
North Korea test-fired hypersonic IRBMs powered by solid fuel near Pyongyang on January 14 and April 2. These missiles traveled distances of approximately 621 miles and 373 miles. The missile launched by North Korea was visibly identifiable even in the capital regions of South Korea like Seoul and Incheon, raising speculation that there might have been an issue with the engine.
A military official explained, “Today’s missile emitted more smoke than usual and flew abnormally, making it identifiable to the naked eye. There may have been a combustion issue.”
The official added, “Weapon systems often require multiple tests to succeed. They undergo numerous trials and errors before becoming operational. We assess that North Korea’s hypersonic IRBM is still in the testing phase before becoming operational.”
There is speculation that North Korean leaders, including Kim Jong Un, may have overseen this missile test launch. However, given the failure of the test launch, it is expected that the news of the supervision will not be reported through North Korean media such as Rodong Sinmun.
It has been about a month since North Korea’s last ballistic missile launch, which was a 600mm caliber super-large multiple rocket launcher (KN-25) fired on the 30th of last month.
North Korea also released trash balloons toward its southern counterpart for two consecutive nights, including the previous night. The previous night, they sent about 250 trash balloons, with around 100 of them landing in northern Gyeonggi and Seoul.
These recent actions by North Korea are seen as protests against the joint U.S.-South Korea-Japan exercises, as well as part of their own weapons development program.
The U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt and the 9th Carrier Strike Group are set to depart Busan Port today for upcoming joint exercises with
naval forces from South Korea and Japan. President Yoon Suk Yeol boarded the docked Roosevelt the day before, showing North Korea their strong U.S.-South Korea alliance.
For the first time since the full suspension of the 9·19 Inter-Korean Military Agreement, live-fire training of the South Korean Marine Corps’ K-9 self-propelled howitzers aimed at the West Sea buffer zone is scheduled. The South Korean Army’s Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) K-239 Cheonmu live-fire training was also conducted the day before.