Newly released photos appear to reveal unexpected advances in North Korea’s missile program, experts say, including a previously unseen type of projectile.
But it was the photos of the inspection released by state media which missile analysts seized upon immediately.
“This is the North Koreans showing us, or at least portraying, that their solid-fuel missile program is improving at a steady rate, ” David Schmerler, research associate at the Monterey Institute of International Studies’ James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, told CNN.
One photo of Kim reveals a poster on the wall clearly mentioning a missile called “Pukguksong-3, ” a potential successor to the previous two versions of the missile which were both solid-fuel, medium-range projectiles.
North Korea’s desire to build solid-fuel missiles is driven by their need for projectiles they can launch quickly and subtly, said Michael Duitsman, also a research associate at the James Martin Center.
“Solid fuel missiles are much faster to deploy … a solid fuel missile is always fueled so all they have to do is drive it to the place they want to launch it, ” he said.
“It’s much easier to put into action, much harder to catch before it launches because they’re a lot less in terms of launch preparations that could be done.”
All ballistic missiles owned by the United States and Russia are solid-fuel models, according to Duitsman.
In another, the North Korean leader stands next to a large copper-colored container, which experts said could be a wound-filament reinforced plastic rocket casing.
“It’s not a missile test but it’s still very disconcerting for people who look at the North Korean ballistic missile program, ” Duitsman.
