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


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

By Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith

 

2020-10-10T121259Z_1_LYNXMPEG990AH_RTROPTP_4_NORTHKOREA-MISSILES.JPG

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)

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-10
 
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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 ..

 

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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 ..

 

IMG_20201010_164053.jpg

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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.

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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!

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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 ..

 

IMG_20201010_164053.jpg

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

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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 ..

 

IMG_20201010_164053.jpg

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

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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!

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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?

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