North Korea missile passes re-entry test in breakthrough for nuclear programme
Julian Ryall, in Tokyo 20 May 2017 • 7:19pm
The ballistic missile launched by North Korea on May 14 successfully re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere, according to analysts, a significant breakthrough for Pyongyang’s missile programme.
Defence officials in South Korea and the US have confirmed that the launch of the liquid- fuel Hwasong-12 was a success.
North Korea claimed that the weapon reached an altitude of 2,111.5 km (1,312 miles) and travelled a distance of 489 miles before breaching Japan’s Air Defence Identification Zone and splashing down in the Sea of Japan.
Defence officials in South Korea and the US have confirmed that the launch of the liquid- fuel Hwasong-12 was a success.
North Korea claimed that the weapon reached an altitude of 2,111.5 km (1,312 miles) and travelled a distance of 489 miles before breaching Japan’s Air Defence Identification Zone and splashing down in the Sea of Japan.
The
missile took a steep parabolic route that tested its ability to survive
re-entry into the atmosphere, with North Korean state media reporting
that the missile – capable of carrying a “large-size, heavy nuclear warhead” to a target on the US mainland – had come through “the worst re-entry situation” and struck its intended target.
That claim was confirmed by South Korean government sources, who told the JoongAng Daily that analysis of data communication from North Korea’s missile control centre confirmed the warhead survived the 5,000 degrees Celsius (9,032 Fahrenheit) and extreme vibration it experienced on re-entry.
That claim was confirmed by South Korean government sources, who told the JoongAng Daily that analysis of data communication from North Korea’s missile control centre confirmed the warhead survived the 5,000 degrees Celsius (9,032 Fahrenheit) and extreme vibration it experienced on re-entry.
US defence officials have similarly confirmed to NBC News that the test was a success.
Analysts have long considered the largest challenges to North Korea’s ballistic missile programme to be achieving re-entry and miniaturising a nuclear warhead to enable it to be mounted on a missile.
The Hwasong-12 weapon is an intermediate-range missile and experts suggest it will take around three years for the technology to be applied to an intercontinental missile capable of striking the mainland US, although it is clearly a major step towards that goal.
Analysts have long considered the largest challenges to North Korea’s ballistic missile programme to be achieving re-entry and miniaturising a nuclear warhead to enable it to be mounted on a missile.
The Hwasong-12 weapon is an intermediate-range missile and experts suggest it will take around three years for the technology to be applied to an intercontinental missile capable of striking the mainland US, although it is clearly a major step towards that goal.
After numerous test launches, North Korean scientists have already mastered long-range guidance and control capabilities, while a series of underground tests have demonstrated that the regime of Kim Jong-un has acquired nuclear weapons.
As a result of the latest North Korean test, US authorities have decided to extend the deployment of the USS Carl Vinson and its strike group in the Sea of Japan.
The fleet – described as an “armada” by President Donald Trump – was
due to depart from the region after the USS Ronald Reagan, another
aircraft carrier, completed a refit at the US naval base at Yokosuka,
Japan.
The USS Ronald Reagan put to sea on May 16 and the two strike groups are now scheduled to carry out manoeuvres with South Korean warships in the coming weeks.
The USS Ronald Reagan put to sea on May 16 and the two strike groups are now scheduled to carry out manoeuvres with South Korean warships in the coming weeks.
