North Korea often stages military provocations to distract from its political setbacks, so many predicted that it would try something after last week’s high-profile defection of senior diplomat Thae Yong-ho. But Wednesday’s launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine was more than a diversion—it was also an operational success, representing a clear advance in Kim Jong Un’s weapons arsenal.
The KN-11 missile flew some 300 miles off North Korea’s east coast, toward Japan, before falling into the sea, say U.S. and South Korean officials. That’s the longest flight by far since Pyongyang started testing its submarine launch systems in 2014. Two sub-launched missiles failed earlier this year when they blew up in midair after about 18 miles.
Pyongyang has devoted considerable resources to its nuclear and missile programs and is progressing on both fronts. Analysts in South Korea who, like their U.S. counterparts, have often underestimated North Korean capabilities, believe Pyongyang could deploy operational sub-launched missiles by 2020.
The North’s Gorae submarine, based on old Yugoslavian designs, may be relatively unsophisticated and noisy. But it could threaten South Korea, Japan and tens of thousands of U.S. troops simply by deploying around North Korea’s coast with the KN-11. The missile has an estimated top range of 550 miles.
Wednesday’s achievement follows another recent milestone for Pyongyang’s missile program. In June it successfully launched for the first time a medium-range Musudan missile from a road-mobile carrier.
The missile also reached the highest altitude the North has achieved. This is especially worrisome because the intercontinental ballistic missile Pyongyang is developing—with an estimated 10,000-mile range that could reach half the continental U.S.—uses Musudan-type engines in its initial boost phase. CONTINUE AT SITE
