Pyongyang, 19 October 2021 (TDI): The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea DPRK, commonly referred to as North Korea, launched a ballistic missile on Tuesday. Fired at 10:17 am local time; the country tested a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM). In recent weeks, the country has conducted tests of a long-range cruise missile, a train-launched weapon, and a hypersonic warhead.
TRIAL OF SLBM
The Department Director of the Central Committee of the Workers, Yu Jin, the Deputy Department Director of the Munitions Industry of the WPK Central Committee directed the trials of the ballistic missile. Officials from the academy also attended the event.
North Korea, formerly, tested an SLBM in 2019 October. It was a trial of Pukguksong-3 missile which was launched from an underwater platform. Reportedly, the range of the missile was 450 kilometers with an altitude of 910 kilometers.
Heretofore, North Korea exhibited new Pukguksong-4 and Pukguksong-5 SLBMs at military parades in October and January, respectively.
FEATURES OF THE SLBM
The latest tested ballistic missile was launched by a submarine. The test was off the east coast. According to Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) which is the state news agency of the country, North Korea successfully conducted the test. The submarine used for the launch of the ballistic missile was the “8.24 Yongung” submarine.
The same vessel was employed to test the first SLBM of North Korea in 2016. The Academy of Defense Science of the DPRK conducted the test. The fired Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile is a newer version of the previous ones.
The academy claimed that the new-type SLBM has cutting-edge control guidance technologies. These include gliding skip mobility and flank mobility. According to a source, the ballistic missile flew approximately 430-450km to an altitude of 60km.
NORTH KOREA’S NUCLEAR TRIAD
North Korea is a de facto nuclear weapon state with a considerable military arsenal. It is located in East Asia, making up the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. Sharing contiguity with China, Russia, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) the country has pressed ahead with military development, regardless of the international pressure.
The possession of a submarine-launched ballistic missile is integral for the completion of the nuclear triad. A triad is an effective deterrent because of the concept of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD). The report published by the KCNA claimed that the ballistic missile possesses advanced technologies.
STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT
The persistently evolving strategic environment of North Korea makes it mandatory for the country to possess contemporary military capabilities. Test trials of ballistic missiles portray the military might of a state and act as an effective deterrent.
Subsequently, the new SLBM will add to the defense technology of the country by elevating its level. It also has the potential to increase the subsurface operational capability of the North Korean Navy. Previously, North Korea only tested a small number of SLBMs.
The launch, presumably followed a meeting of U.S. and South Korean envoys in Washington on Monday.
){kind=link}