On October 31, the DPRK conducted its first test launch this year of a new ICBM, the Hwaseong-19

The last launch of several short-range ballistic missiles took place on September 18. The most recent previous launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile was on December 18 last year, when North Korea launched a solid-propellant ICBM, the Hwaseong-18.

Technical parameters of the new missile

As KCNA reported, the missile was airborne for 5,156 seconds (an absolute record for North Korean missiles) and traveled a distance of 1,001.2 km with a maximum altitude of 7,687.5 km. Traditionally, ICBMs are launched at a lofted (i.e. almost vertical) trajectory: North Korea is not a big enough country to freely test missiles of all classes over its territory, as Russia can. However, when launched at a standard angle, an ICBM can travel a distance of more than 15,000 kilometers depending on the weight of the warhead—enough to reach the US mainland. The color and shape of the flame indicate that it is a solid fuel rocket.

The photos published by state media show the rocket being launched from an 11-axle transporter erector launcher, which appears to be about 30 meters long, and is thus longer than any of the launchers previously used by the DPRK.

KCNA reported that the Hwaseong-19, along with the Hwaseong-18, is the “final version” of its ICBM, which will be used to defend the DPRK and properly deter acts of aggression.

… and opinions of experts from different countries

Experts from South Korea have rated the ICBM as the largest to date, noting that its nose cone appears to be more rounded, raising speculation that it may be designed to house multiple warheads inside. The total launch weight of the new ICBM is estimated at 65 tons, and its warhead weight is about twice that of the Hwaseong-18 warhead—at least 2 tons, compared to 1.2 tons.

Shin Seung-ki, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), notes that in terms of technology development, the DPRK is moving from........

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