Seoul/Panjab Post
North Korea announced on Thursday that it had conducted a successful test of a multi-warhead missile, marking a significant development in its missile capabilities aimed at overwhelming US and South Korean defenses. However, South Korea swiftly dismissed the claim, asserting that the launch was a cover-up for a failed test.
According to North Korea’s state media, the test on Wednesday validated the separation and guidance control of multiple individual mobile warheads, essential for Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs). The report claimed that these warheads were accurately guided to three designated targets, with radar confirmation of a deployed decoy.
If verified, this would represent North Korea’s first public demonstration of a multi-warhead missile, albeit at an early stage of development. Meanwhile, South Korea’s military, in collaboration with US authorities, concluded that the North Korean launch ended in failure. Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon explained that the missile exploded during its initial flight stage, contrary to North Korea’s assertions.
Photographs released by North Korea purportedly show a weapon resembling the liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM tested in March 2023. Earlier assessments by South Korean military suggested the launch involved a suspected solid-fueled hypersonic missile that exploded off North Korea’s east coast, casting debris into the sea.
North Korea’s pursuit of advanced weaponry, including MIRV-capable missiles, has been part of leader Kim Jong Un’s strategic agenda outlined since early 2021. Analysts, such as Ankit Panda from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, anticipated such a test as a critical milestone in North Korea’s military modernization efforts.
As international scrutiny intensifies, the conflicting narratives between North and South Korea underscore the volatile security dynamics in the region, prompting concerns over future military provocations and diplomatic responses.