North Korea unveils 'monster' new intercontinental ballistic missile at parade

By Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith

 

FILE PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the 19th Meeting of the Political Bureau of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), in this image released by North Korea's Central News Agency on October 5, 2020. KCNA/via REUTERS

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea unveiled previously unseen intercontinental ballistic missiles at an unprecedented predawn military parade on Saturday that showcased the country's long-range weapons for the first time in two years.

 

Analysts said the missile, which was shown on a transporter vehicle with 11 axles, would be one of the largest road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in the world if it becomes operational.

 

"This missile is a monster," said Melissa Hanham, deputy director of the Open Nuclear Network.

 

Also displayed were the Hwasong-15, which is the longest-range missile ever tested by North Korea, and what appeared to be a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

 

Ahead of the parade, which was held to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers' Party, officials in South Korea and the United States said Kim Jong Un could use the event to unveil a new "strategic weapon" as promised earlier this year.

 

A senior U.S. administration official called the display of the ICBM "disappointing" and called on the government to negotiate to achieve a complete denuclearisation.

 

The parade featured North Korea's ballistic missiles for the first time since Kim began meeting with international leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, in 2018.

 

"We will continue to build our national defence power and self-defensive war deterrence," Kim said, but vowed that the country's military power would not be used preemptively. He made no direct mention of the United States or the now-stalled denuclearisation talks.

 

Kim blamed international sanctions, typhoons, and the coronavirus for preventing him from delivering on promises of economic progress.

 

"I am ashamed that I have never been able to repay you properly for your enormous trust," he said. "My efforts and devotion were not sufficient to bring our people out of difficult livelihoods."

 

The video showed Kim make an appearance as a clock struck midnight. Dressed in a grey suit and tie, he waved to the crowd and accepted flowers from children while surrounded by military officials in Pyongyang's recently renovated Kim Il Sung Square.

 

Kim spoke for nearly half an hour, often visibly sweating despite the cool morning air, shedding tears when thanking the troops, and smiling and laughing as he watched the missiles.

 

The parade was highly choreographed, with thousands of troops marching in formation, displays of new conventional military equipment including tanks, and fighter jets launching flares and fireworks.

 

Experts said that the new, larger ICBM is likely designed to carry multiple independent reentry vehicles (MIRVs), allowing it to attack more targets and making interception more difficult.

 

The new ICBM is likely intended to dispel doubts about North Korea's ability to strike the continental United States, and an implicit threat that they are preparing to test the larger missile, said Markus Garlauskas, a former U.S. intelligence officer for North Korea.

 

"If the Hwasong-15 could carry a 'super-large' nuclear warhead to anywhere in the U.S., then the natural question is what can this larger missile carry?," he said.

 

CORONAVIRUS MEASURES

 

Kim became visibly emotional as he thanked the troops for their sacrifice in responding to natural disasters and preventing a corovonavirus outbreak.

 

He said he was grateful that not a single North Korean had tested positive for the disease, an assertion that South Korea and the United States have previously questioned.

 

While attendees at other celebratory events were shown wearing masks, no one at the parade appeared to be wearing them.

 

Kim said he hoped that North and South Korea would join hands again when the global coronavirus crisis is over.

 

South Korean officials said this week that Kim could use the event as a "low intensity" show of power ahead of the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 3, as denuclearisation talks with Washington have stalled.

 

In a congratulatory message to Kim for the anniversary, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he intended to "defend, consolidate and develop" ties with North Korea, its state media said on Saturday.

 

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith; Additional reporting by Hyunyoung Yi in Seoul and Idrees Ali in Washington; Editing by William Mallard, Ros Russell and Frances Kerry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-10

 

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Wonderful rocket ... fat dictator and hungry people. Perfect match.

Why does this man needs a rocket? Covid-19 from China is a much better weapon.

3 minutes ago, UB40 said:

Wonderful rocket ... fat dictator and hungry people. Perfect match.

Why does this man needs a rocket? Covid-19 from China is a much better weapon.

 

 That said . 

 Covid 19 , is more acceptable to the western democracy ..

 

1 hour ago, UB40 said:

Wonderful rocket ... fat dictator and hungry people. Perfect match.

Why does this man needs a rocket? Covid-19 from China is a much better weapon.

because USA has a history of attacking nations that dont have the bomb, and a reliable delivery

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Analysts said the missile, which was shown on a transporter vehicle with 11 axles

Look at the size of the thing .. Chairman Kim has out bigged the rest of them with that badboy if the name of the game is my missile's bigger than yours .. 

And you'd wanna make sure the brakes were tiptop working on that truck as well ..

 

Is this the same man that Donald Trump fell in love with?

 

37 minutes ago, Justgrazing said:

if the name of the game is my missile's bigger than yours

nah, the name of the game would be to make them smaller if possible,

but with todays state of the art rocketry this is what it takes

23 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Is this the same man that Donald Trump fell in love with?

 

They are both <censored>. The main difference is that there are still more than 40,000,000 people out there who want 4 more year for one of them...

11 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"If the Hwasong-15 could carry a 'super-large' nuclear warhead to anywhere in the U.S., then the natural question is what can this larger missile carry?" 

Well, it could carry Kim. It's his escape pod. Supersized and extra-large.

"...one of the largest road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in the world if it becomes operational."

We still have time. N Korea would have to build some roads for the road-mobile launcher

Maybe we can persuade N Korea to use Thai drivers? That'll stop them, one way or the other

14 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"My efforts and devotion were not sufficient to bring our people out of difficult livelihoods."

          What efforts ?   Nuclear power won't feed the people.

obsolete saber rattling.....welcome to the future, the future is now
https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/russia-test-zircon-hypersonic-nuke-for-vladimir-putins-birthday/news-story/2697f32f2124824a8489b6d13395a273

I'm surprised that Kim Jong Un's personal barber hasn't been fed to the dogs yet.

I have no doubt that this "missile" is just an old Russian display model.  However, the world is still at great peril from the dictator of North Korea.  An international solution will soon be required before he starts  bullying his neighbors with his bombs!

He is big rocket man now here goes Guam again ????

14 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

Look at the size of the thing .. Chairman Kim has out bigged the rest of them with that badboy if the name of the game is my missile's bigger than yours .. 

And you'd wanna make sure the brakes were tiptop working on that truck as well ..

 

We made something look like this for a carnival float, are we sure this was the real thing or is Kim showing off to the people

16 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

Look at the size of the thing .. Chairman Kim has out bigged the rest of them with that badboy if the name of the game is my missile's bigger than yours .. 

And you'd wanna make sure the brakes were tiptop working on that truck as well ..

 

I'm just thinking it makes an easier target to hit ...

3 hours ago, Emdog said:

"...one of the largest road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in the world if it becomes operational."

We still have time. N Korea would have to build some roads for the road-mobile launcher

Maybe we can persuade N Korea to use Thai drivers? That'll stop them, one way or the other

It will be the brakes fault!

16 hours ago, scammed said:

because USA has a history of attacking nations that dont have the bomb, and a reliable delivery

When has the USA ever attacked a nation using a Nuclear weapon that did not have the bomb, or were not already attacking allies, or endangering it's own citizens by the actions they were taking.  Most of the US incursions were motivated by Actions the other countries and rebels had started.  Tell me if I have it wrong. Nuclear disarmament has been a goal for many years and the last time a nuclear weapon was ever used was the two dropped on Japan, and it was a messy way to end a war, that the US did not start.  Just so I include it as well, OIL has not been the reason for an incursion, economic stability has been a key proponent.

You can have a missile. You can have a nuclear war-head.

But attaching one to the other and make them both work is not easy. North Korea has consistently failed with this when it comes to their long-range ICBMs.

41 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

When has the USA ever attacked a nation using a Nuclear weapon that did not have the bomb, or were not already attacking allies, or endangering it's own citizens by the actions they were taking.  Most of the US incursions were motivated by Actions the other countries and rebels had started.  Tell me if I have it wrong. Nuclear disarmament has been a goal for many years and the last time a nuclear weapon was ever used was the two dropped on Japan, and it was a messy way to end a war, that the US did not start.  Just so I include it as well, OIL has not been the reason for an incursion, economic stability has been a key proponent.

He didn't say the US attacked nations using nukes....he said the US attacked countries that did not have nukes. 

16 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

He didn't say the US attacked nations using nukes....he said the US attacked countries that did not have nukes. 

Irak comes to mind. If Saddam had nukes at that time, he would likely still be in power. The message has been very well understood by NK.

Thank you Kim,  You, alongside Iran, bring a bit of balance to the world.  It would be a better place without WMD's of course but some paranoid countries cant do without having the big stick so at least here we have some balance.

you really should see a documentary

 

how overseas workers have to give their salary paid to the KOREAN embassy and that is how mr Kim can live like a king and buy toys of mass delusion

With all the high level lying and cheating these days, it is quite possible that nothing is inside the rocket.

1 hour ago, wabothai said:

With all the high level lying and cheating these days, it is quite possible that nothing is inside the rocket.

Nothing except troops, sort of like the Trojan Horse?

The truck is doggone impressive. Did they build the truck in house? That is hard to fake.

8 hours ago, car720 said:

I wonder if our American friends realize that after all their talk that it is too late to slap him down now.

But if they don't and they try to, will you be on the communist side ?

 

I do see you only mention Americans; does that mean the rest of the world is okay with the North Korean dictator?

Edited October 11, 20205 yr by IAMHERE
clearity

Bit stupid of him to show the World his weapons , that would be the first thing to be targeted by a by an enemy missile, should a war break out , satellites are probably watching and and seeing where he puts it 

I find NK to be particularly fascinating as it is probably the sole country in the world which is entirely self-reliant. When they build something, especially of this magnitude, it is 100% made of the sweat and blood of their own people, which is quite impressive.

Not to mention, if there is one country in the world which has interest in being armed, it is this one. There are too many sharks in the water, and they'd better have big guns if they don't want to be razed to the ground and replaced by a giant shopping mall.
I sincerely believe the narrative their leaders built about the west rings closer to the truth than ours about them.

Edited October 11, 20205 yr by Seik