North Korea announced the successful launch of a missile with an “ultra-large warhead”: South Korea sees the deception

North Korea announced the successful launch of a missile with an “ultra-large warhead”: South Korea sees the deception Yaroslav Pogonchuk

DPRK announces successful test of new ballistic missile with "extra-large warhead"/Collage 24 Channel

North Korea announced the successful test of a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying an “ultra-large warhead.” However, South Korea and experts doubt the veracity of these statements.

South Korean officials speculated that the DPRK may have fabricated information about the success. They believe that by doing this they want to hide the unsuccessful launch.

What is known about the DPRK testing new weapons

The publication notes that this is the second time in recent days that South Korea has questioned North Korea's claims to be developing new weapons amid escalating tensions between the countries.

According to North Korea's official news agency KCNA, Monday's test involved the launch of a Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5 missile, which can carry a warhead weighing 4.5 tons. The tests were aimed at checking the missile's flight stability and hit accuracy at a maximum range of 500 kilometers and a minimum of 90 kilometers.

Why is it installed in South Korea questioning the statements of the DPRK

South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Lee Sung Joon said at a briefing that a second North Korean missile fell in an uninhabited area near Pyongyang. He noted that few previous North Korean tests were aimed at ground targets.

North Korea assesses that we are considering the possibility of deception, he said Lee.

The South Korean military said a second North Korean missile may have behaved abnormally during the initial phase of its flight. They added that if the rocket exploded, its debris would likely have scattered to the ground.

KCNA did not say where the new missile was launched from or where it landed. Unlike previous weapons tests, North Korea also did not release any photos from Monday's test. The fact that the maximum and minimum range of the missile was checked indicates that the DPRK carried out two launches.

The official North Korean News Agency, citing the DPRK Missile Administration, reported that North Korea again will test the missile later in July to test its performance at an average range of 250 kilometers.

Some experts believe that launching missiles at ground targets may be an attempt to test how powerful warheads for the destruction of underground bunkers and structures.

How the DPRK could deceive the world

Seoul-based military expert Shin Jongwoo noted that the lack of photos of the launch indicates a high probability that the DPRK is trying to deceive the outside world to cover up the failed launch.

He believes that North Korea probably launched an existing missile on Monday, rather than a new one as stated.

Asan Institute for Policy Studies analyst Young Wook noted that Monday's test reflects North Korea's desire to obtain a variety of conventional weapons. But he also noted that if North Korea had actually succeeded in hitting a ground target, it would have already published the corresponding images, as it did earlier.

The publication noted that Since 2022, North Korea has sharply stepped up weapons testing to increase its nuclear arsenal. North Korea's stated ranges for the new missile indicate it is aimed at South Korea.

Experts say North Korea ultimately wants to use an expanded arsenal of weapons to increase its position in future diplomacy with USA.