Pyongyang saw the debut of the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile, a weapon potentially capable of reaching the continental US, at a recent military parade.
North Korea showcased its newest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during a military parade held on Friday.
The event, led by leader Kim Jong-un and commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party’s founding, featured North Korea’s latest weapon systems, including military drones, tanks equipped with advanced electronic warfare technology, and hypersonic missiles.
Nevertheless, the focal point of the demonstration was the inaugural display of the Hwasong-20. State media described this as North Korea’s “most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system” to date, possessing the potential to strike targets as distant as the continental United States. During the ceremony, the enormous missile was displayed mounted on an 11-axle transporter-launcher vehicle.
The Hwasong-20’s existence became public knowledge just last month when North Korea tested a new solid-fuel rocket engine, which it stated was designed for its next generation of ICBMs. Solid-fueled rockets offer advantages over their liquid-fueled counterparts, being quicker to transport and launch, thereby making them more difficult to intercept. State media reported that the carbon-fiber-constructed engine is more potent than any previous North Korean design.
Specific details regarding the Hwasong-20’s specifications remain scarce, and Pyongyang has not yet announced a test launch. Experts speculate that it might be capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads—a capability Kim has frequently urged his military to develop.
North Korea asserts that its pursuit of advanced weaponry is a necessary response to ongoing Western military threats, particularly those from the US. Pyongyang perceives Washington’s military presence in South Korea and the joint military exercises conducted by the two nations as aggressive. It maintains that its nuclear and missile programs are crucial deterrents against foreign intervention, emphasizing that its arsenal is purely defensive and designed to safeguard national sovereignty.