North Korean ICBMs: ¿From The Parade To The Test?

Among the new weapon systems put on display by North Korea two months ago were the Hwasong-12 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) the Pukguksong-2 Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM), a new precision Scud variant, and an improved coastal defense cruise missile, all of which have appeared on the testing grounds in recent weeks.

However, North Korea has yet to test his liquid-fueled KN-08 and KN-14 ICBMs (Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles): North Korea has been exclusively testing missiles that appeared in a military parade earlier this year, raising serious questions about what threat from North Korea is getting ready next.

North Korea has said as much “The series of recent strategic weapons tests show that we are not too far away from test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile,” the Rodong Sinmun, the official paper of the ruling party, said Saturday. In addition to its long-range missile aspirations, the North is also interested in developing a diverse arsenal of missiles for a complex variety of combat contingencies.

So, what is North Korea’s next move? “I suppose one way to think about it would be to look at the April 15 parade again,” Joshua Pollack, a leading arms expert, told The Daily Caller News Foundation. Even when the North has yet not tested the suspected solid-fueled, canister-launched ICBM seen during the parade, the recent string of weapons testing suggests that a test of some type of ICBM is coming soon.