North Korea demonstrates a new ICBM at a military parade. Some commentators believe that this missile, once deployed, will be one of the world’s largest ICBMs.
North Korea held a pre-dawn military parade Saturday (Oct. 10) to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea, debuting a new ICBM that has never been shown to the public before and the country’s first demonstration of the long-range weapon in two years.
Analysts say the missile, which would require an 11-axle vehicle, would be the world’s largest ICBM once deployed. This missile is a monster,” said Melissa Hanham, deputy director of the Open Nuclear Network.
The North Korean military parade also featured the Mars-15 intercontinental missile, which is the longest-range missile the North has ever tested and appears to be a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile. Kim Jong-un appeared on the reviewing stand at midnight and spoke for nearly half an hour.
Before that, South Korean and U.S. officials indicated that Kim Jong-un might launch a new “strategic weapon” at the parade.
Experts say the new ICBM could carry multiple independent re-entry vehicles with the ability to attack more targets, making interception more difficult.
Markus Garlauskas, a former U.S. intelligence official in charge of North Korean affairs, said the demonstration of the new ICBM could be an attempt to dispel doubts about North Korea’s ability to strike the U.S. mainland, and that the threat is preparing to test-fire a larger missile.
Garlauskas said, “If the Mars-15 can fly to any location in the U.S. with a ‘very large’ nuclear warhead, it’s natural to ask, what can this larger missile carry?”
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