North Korea Displays ‘Most Powerful’ Missile During 80th Anniversary Parade

North Korea recently unveiled its latest and most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-20, during a military parade in Pyongyang presided over by the country’s leader Kim Jong Un. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the parade, held on Friday, was a major display of North Korea’s growing military capabilities, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. The event also followed a series of celebratory events beginning on Thursday.

The parade featured several of North Korea’s most sophisticated weapons systems, including long-range strategic cruise missiles and drone launch vehicles. However, the Hwasong-20 ICBM received special prominence. Mounted on an 11-axle launcher truck, this missile represents the apex of North Korea’s ambitions for long-range nuclear delivery capabilities. KCNA described it as the nation’s “most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system.” The Hwasong-20’s existence had only recently been revealed, following North Korea’s testing of a new solid-fuel rocket engine intended for future generations of ICBMs.

State media highlighted that the new engine, built with carbon fiber, produces 1,971 kilonewtons of thrust, making it more powerful than previous North Korean rocket engines. The missile is designed to provide North Korea with the ability to strike targets at long range, theoretically including the United States. Nevertheless, questions remain among analysts regarding the sophistication of its guidance system and whether the missile’s warhead payload can survive atmospheric re-entry.

Ankit Panda of the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace described the Hwasong-20 as the culmination of North Korea’s long-range nuclear ambitions. He suggested that the missile is likely to be tested before the end of the year and noted that it may be capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads. Multiple warheads would significantly increase stress on existing US missile defense systems and enhance what Kim Jong Un considers necessary for credible deterrence against Washington. Panda and other experts believe that this capability is intended to maximize the missile’s chances of penetrating enemy defenses, further solidifying North Korea’s strategic position.

In addition to the military showcase, Kim Jong Un delivered a speech during the parade, emphasizing North Korea’s ideological and strategic positions. According to KCNA, he described North Korea as a “faithful member of socialist forces” and “a bulwark for independence” against the perceived threat of Western global hegemony. The speech reiterated the regime’s commitment to national sovereignty, self-reliance, and continued development of its strategic military capabilities.

Overall, the Hwasong-20’s unveiling serves multiple purposes for North Korea. It is both a demonstration of technological and military advancement and a symbolic statement of national power and self-reliance. By showcasing the missile publicly, North Korea signals its long-range strike capabilities to both domestic audiences and the international community, reinforcing Kim Jong Un’s leadership image and the nation’s deterrence posture. The parade, timed with the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party, underscores the integration of military strength with political legitimacy and highlights North Korea’s ongoing efforts to enhance its strategic arsenal amidst global scrutiny.

In conclusion, the Hwasong-20 ICBM represents a significant step in North Korea’s pursuit of advanced long-range nuclear weapons. Its display during the parade not only marks a milestone in the nation’s military development but also reinforces Kim Jong Un’s vision of a robust, independent, and strategically capable North Korea capable of asserting its position on the global stage.