Analysts say images of ‘monster’ North Korean ICBM may have been from earlier launch
By Josh Smith
SEOUL (Reuters) – The “monster” Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) proven this week in North Korean state media after the nation’s greatest test-fire ever is probably going from an earlier launch, analysts mentioned after analyzing the pictures and video.
North Korea mentioned the launch on Thursday was of the Hwasong-17, an enormous new ICBM unveiled at a pre-dawn army parade in October 2020 however by no means earlier than publicly examined.
However analysts mentioned shadows, climate, and different facets of the imagery recommend the launch proven by North Korea truly occurred on a unique date and time.
“A number of items of visible proof recommend North Korea’s model of occasions is deceptive at greatest, and presumably a whole fabrication of a profitable Hwasong-17 check at worst,” NK Professional, a Seoul-based analysis web site that tracks North Korea, mentioned in a report.
There may be little doubt {that a} missile check occurred on Thursday, and that it was the longest and highest ever performed by North Korea. Flight information had been independently corroborated by South Korea and Japan, which tracked the launch.
Nonetheless the NK Professional report mentioned the missile proven in state media protection could in actual fact have been one which South Korea mentioned exploded in mid-air shortly after launch on March 16.
North Korea by no means publicly acknowledged that obvious check launch or its failure, which reportedly despatched particles raining down in or close to Pyongyang.
Michael Duitsman, with the U.S.-based James Martin Middle for Nonproliferation Research (CNS), mentioned researchers on the heart agreed that a number of the footage launched by North Korea is from the failed check on the morning of March 16 relatively than the March 24 check, which occurred round 2:24 p.m.
Pictures and video launched by North Korean state media present a Hwasong-17 lifting off from its 22-wheeled transporter, erector, launch (TEL) automobile on the Pyongyang airport.
“The TEL’s shadow matches a morning launch a lot better than a day launch,” he mentioned on Twitter.
U.S. and South Korean officers beforehand mentioned that the Hwasong-17 system was examined throughout launches on Feb. 27 and March 5, however not at full vary or functionality. Neither Washington or Seoul has confirmed what missile was concerned with the failed launch, or commented on the discrepancies in North Korea’s claims.
South Korean media have cited unnamed officers saying they had been analyzing whether or not North Korea had in actual fact launched an older and smaller sort of ICBM, the Hwasong-15, which had beforehand been test-fired in Nov. 2017.
“Whereas this doesn’t imply that the March 24 check was a Hwasong-15, it does increase questions,” Duitsman mentioned of the imagery.
(Reporting by Josh Smith; Modifying by Ros Russell)
