On Friday, North Korea announced the successful test launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-19. This missile is described as the “ultimate version” of North Korea’s ICBM technology and will complement the existing Hwasong-18 in the regime’s expanding nuclear arsenal.

Hwasong-19: An Advanced Weapon System

According to the state-run media outlet Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Hwasong-19 achieved an impressive altitude of 7,687.5 kilometers (4,776.8 miles) and flew 1,001.2 kilometers over a duration of 5,156 seconds (approximately 85 minutes and 56 seconds). These figures set new records for altitude and flight duration in North Korean ICBM tests. Analysts suggest that if launched on a standard trajectory, the Hwasong-19 could potentially reach distances exceeding 15,000 kilometers, which would cover the entire U.S. mainland.

The test occurred on Thursday at approximately 7:10 a.m. local time in Pyongyang and was conducted using a lofted trajectory. KCNA released an initial report about five hours after the launch, followed by a more detailed account, including 22 photographs showcasing the missile’s performance. The timing of the announcement coincides with significant global attention, as it comes amid the upcoming U.S. presidential election and internal unrest linked to the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.

Kim Jong-un’s Reaction

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly attended the launch with his daughter, Ju-ae. He expressed his “great satisfaction” with the missile’s performance, declaring that the launch demonstrated North Korea’s “hegemonic position” in nuclear weaponry development. He asserted that this progress is “absolutely irreversible.” Photographs from the event showed the Hwasong-19 being launched from an 11-axle transporter erector launcher (TEL), indicating an upgrade from the Hwasong-18’s nine-axle configuration.

In its English-language report, KCNA hailed the Hwasong-19 as “the perfected weapon system of ICBM,” alongside the Hwasong-18. The report emphasized its critical role in defending North Korea, containing adversaries’ aggressive actions, and reliably protecting national security, using the abbreviation of North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Technical Specifications and Future Developments

The Hwasong-19 features a blunt-shaped warhead, which differs from the sharper design of the Hwasong-18. This alteration suggests that the missile may be intended to carry multiple warheads, aligning with Kim’s goals stated during the Eighth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party in 2021. At that time, Kim emphasized the importance of developing multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) technology, alongside hypersonic missiles, solid-fuel ICBMs, nuclear-powered submarines, and reconnaissance satellites.

Despite the lack of detailed technical specifications regarding the Hwasong-19, KCNA employed promotional language, referring to it as an “absolute weapon,” “the strongest in the world,” and “a new strength the world has not yet experienced.” Analysts interpret these statements as a means to emphasize the inevitability of North Korea’s nuclear escalation, particularly as the U.S. presidential election approaches.

Geopolitical Implications

Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, views this missile test as a strategic reminder of North Korea’s advancing nuclear capabilities. He argues that the test serves as both a critique of current U.S. policies toward North Korea and a talking point for critics of the Biden administration within the Republican Party.

Furthermore, Hong posits that North Korea’s display of military power aims to consolidate internal support, especially following reports of troop deployments to support Russia. “North Korea’s current strategy appears to respond to international attention and pressure regarding troop deployment and seeks to frame these movements as justified reactions to U.S. threats,” Hong states. By characterizing its military posture as a “nuclear forces response” to perceived threats from the United States and South Korea, Pyongyang attempts to reshape external criticism of its military activities.

International Reactions

In response to the missile test, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi held a phone conversation and released a joint statement condemning the launch. The statement called for North Korea to cease actions that “threaten peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and beyond,” citing the missile test as a “flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.”

On the same day, Cho and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun participated in a “2+2” Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting with U.S. officials, reaffirming their commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and reiterating support for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This term, however, has recently sparked debate, as it was omitted from the previous day’s Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) joint statement, which focused more on delaying North Korea’s nuclear development rather than outright denuclearization.