Report to Congress on North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons and Missile Programs

U.S. Naval Institute ^ | January 26, 2023 | Congressional Research Service

[Retain Mike]

The recent advances in North Korea’s ballistic missile test program appear to be directed at developing capabilities to defeat or degrade the effectiveness of missile defenses deployed in the region: Patriot, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD), and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). In addition, North Korea’s progress with submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) suggests an effort to counter land-based THAAD missile defenses by launching attacks from positions at sea outside the THAAD’s radar field of view, although local Aegis BMD systems could likely still track these projectiles. The Pukgugsong-3 SLBM was successfully tested beginning in late 2019. According to a 2021 DIA report, North Korea has said this SLBM, to be launched from a ballistic missile submarine, will be cold-launched, solid-fueled and “will carry a nuclear warhead.” North Korea has also unveiled longer-range SLBMs, the Pukguksong-4 and Pukguksong- 5.

[G Larry]

I've been out of the loop on NKs abilities, but was in Hawaii on 21 Jan. 2018 and didn't believe the false alarm for a number of reasons.

At that time I don't believe they'd proven a decent guidance system or an RV separation system. Has that changed?

I see headlines like "successfully tested" without mention of the yardstick.

Success = Didn't fall on Kim's head or Japan......?