"SEOUL -- North Korea displayed an unprecedented number of long-range nuclear missiles at a military parade, in an effort to show the country is mass producing weapons capable of striking the U.S.
The parade, which was held Wednesday night in Pyongyang, featured at least 11 Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missiles and a prototype of a new missile designed for faster deployment, state media photos showed. North Korea has never showcased that many nuclear missiles at one time.
The show of force appeared to be aimed at demonstrating the advances the country has made in its missile-production capabilities, analysts said.
Kim Jong Un oversaw the parade, which marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of North Korea's army, alongside his daughter, who has accompanied the leader to several military events. Surrounded by senior military and party officials, Mr. Kim waved to the crowd wearing a long black coat and a fedora, an outfit resembling ones worn by his late grandfather.
The Hwasong-17 ICBM, first launched last year, is North Korea's largest long-range missile with the capability to reach the American mainland. Images also showed new launch vehicles designed to carry solid-fueled ICBMs, suggesting North Korea is preparing to test-launch a new missile that can be deployed more quickly.
In 2018, Mr. Kim ordered the mass production of nuclear warheads and launchers. The Wednesday parade suggested North Korea was expanding its stockpile of nuclear missiles that threaten the U.S. and its allies' missile defense systems. The ICBMs demonstrated North Korea's "tremendous nuclear strike capability," North Korean state media reported.
The Hwasong-17 ICBMs were followed by transporter erector launchers, carrying what appeared to be a prototype of a new solid-fueled ICBM, weapons analysts said. North Korea hasn't tested a solid-fueled ICBM.
The prototype and parade of ICBMs appeared to be aimed at putting pressure on Washington by demonstrating that Pyongyang has enough missile-production capacity to overwhelm existing missile-defense systems, said Yang Uk, a military expert at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, a think tank in Seoul.
"The launchers indicate North Korea is preparing to test launch a solid-fueled ICBM this year, another major weapons advancement to threaten the U.S.," Mr. Yang said.
North Korea has been developing solid-fueled ICBMs that require less preparation time to launch. In December, the regime claimed to have successfully tested a solid-fueled rocket engine for the first time, which is essential to deploying long-range missiles quickly.
North Korea's existing ICBMs are liquid-fueled, meaning they can't be stored with fuel already loaded and launched immediately. The process of fueling and erecting an ICBM can take hours, making them targets for strikes.
Different types of short-range ballistic missiles were also showcased at the parade as thousands of troops marched down Kim Il Sung Square, named after the nation's founder.
Last year, North Korea launched a record number of short-range ballistic missiles, proving they are operational and capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
South Korea's military said it was closely analyzing the photos published by North Korean state media to evaluate the weaponry.
North Korean state media didn't report on any remarks by Mr. Kim, who has skipped speeches at previous military parades. Nonetheless, the weapons on parade likely communicated the message Mr. Kim was seeking to send.
"The main objective of Wednesday's military parade is to show North Korea's growing missile capability to strike the U.S. mainland," said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University. "Kim Jong Un doesn't need to make remarks aimed at Washington when the weapons do it for him."" [1]
1. World News: North Korea Flaunts New Missiles --- Military parade shows longer-range weapons, touting advances in production capabilities
Yoon, Dasl. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 10 Feb 2023: A.10.
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