North Korea has escalated tensions by unveiling an array of new weapon systems directly targeting the South, just ahead of the 80th anniversary celebration of the Workers’ Party on Friday.
During the Defense Development-2025 exhibition in Pyongyang on October 4, Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party, showcased a formidable arsenal. This display included the hypersonic short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) Hwasong-11, supersonic cruise missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), demonstrating North Korea’s confidence in its comprehensive, three-dimensional strike system that spans short to long-range capabilities.
The Hwasong-11—North Korea’s counterpart to the Iskander (KN-23)—features an upgraded Ma variant equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) warhead. Defense analysts suggest that this configuration, which combines the proven KN-23 launch platform with an HGV warhead, could potentially evade South Korean and U.S. air defenses while gliding at speeds exceeding Mach 5.
In his address at the exhibition, Kim stressed that the bolstering of U.S. military assets in the Korean region has heightened North Korea’s strategic concerns. He noted that special assets have been assigned to key targets of interest, implying the potential use of hypersonic short-range missiles against major South Korean military installations and command centers.
Former military journalist and National Assembly member Rep. Yoo Yong-won assessed that the development of hypersonic capabilities for short-range ballistic systems—following the acquisition of medium and long-range hypersonic missiles—signals North Korea’s intent to penetrate the U.S.-South Korea missile defense networks. He added that diversifying the operational platforms increases the likelihood of these systems being deployed in actual combat scenarios.
The exhibition also featured a supersonic cruise missile with a striking resemblance to the Russian 3M-54E anti-ship cruise missile.
This missile, capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 2.9 in its terminal phase, could pose a significant threat to South Korea’s naval fleet if deployed from North Korea’s Choe Hyon class destroyers. Some observers speculate that the deliberately blurred images of multi-launch rocket vehicles mounted on mobile launchers (TELs) might be an attempt to conceal evidence of Russian technological support or joint development efforts.
The exhibition also showcased the Hwasong-18 and Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), designed to target the U.S. mainland. This display reinforced North Korea’s confidence in its three-axis strike system, which includes short, medium, and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Additionally, North Korea unveiled various new weapon systems, including a new strategic SLBM, anti-submarine missiles, and a Pantsir-type air defense system. The SLBM and anti-submarine missiles suggest an expansion of maritime nuclear capabilities, likely intended to counter South Korea’s submarine forces.
The Rodong Sinmun reported that this exhibition represents the culmination of efforts to modernize and enhance North Korea’s military structure, underpinned by nuclear deterrence. The report emphasized the integration of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to boost adaptability in future combat scenarios. Kim underscored the importance of continuously updating military capabilities.
Analysts view this exhibition as a preemptive show of force in advance of the upcoming 80th anniversary parade this Friday, as well as a strategic demonstration of military might in anticipation of future negotiations with the U.S. They particularly note that the operational deployment of short-range hypersonic missiles could strain the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, necessitating enhanced U.S.-South Korea joint interception capabilities.
Furthermore, this exhibition signals North Korea’s progression toward a comprehensive deterrence system that encompasses short-range, maritime, and strategic nuclear weapons. Continued technological collaboration with Russia could potentially shift the military balance on the Korean Peninsula, particularly in terms of speed, precision, and the ability to evade air defenses.
