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.
