North Korean missiles likely fake

Government experts and independent researchers say North Korean missiles that were paraded in Pyongyang in late July are "almost certainly" fake.

NBC News space and missile expert James Oberg, who witnessed North Korea's failed Unha-3 rocket launch in April 2012, pointed to the "undulating skin" seen on a warhead as evidence that it was bogus.

The skin on that part of a long-range missile needs to be very smooth to prevent turbulence and also to keep the missile on course, Oberg said. Furthermore, no evidence of crucial "retro rockets" was seen on the Hwasong-13, according to aerospace engineer and former RAND Corp. military analyst Markus Schiller. Retro rockets are necessary for Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) like the Hwasong to reach altitudes needed to strike far-off targets, NBC reports.

Why North Korea Never Actually Launched That Rocket

 

"As North Korea has learned with its intercontinental range missiles like the Unha 3, launch failures undercut their missile credibility. North Korea heavily tries to use its missiles for strategic intimidation," Dr. Bruce Bennett, a DPRK weapons expert at the Rand Corporation, said via email.

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