Pyongyang: North Korea introduced its latest Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during a significant military parade, signaling its capability to launch a multiple warhead-tipped ICBM capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Hwasong-20 was part of a variety of weapons systems showcased in a parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). The event was attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and dignitaries from China, Russia, Vietnam, and other countries.
Analysts had anticipated the unveiling of the next-generation ICBM during the parade, which occurred a month after Kim's appearance alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in a Beijing military parade, highlighting their unity against the U.S.
Photos from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) depicted the Hwasong-20 moving through Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on an 11-axle transporter erector launcher, which was previously used for the Hwasong-19 ICBM launched last October.
"The spectators broke into the most enthusiastic cheers when the column of Hwasongpho-20 ICBMs, the most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system of the DPRK, entered the square," the KCNA reported, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The Hwasong-20's debut follows North Korea's recent updates on its development of a new high-powered solid-fuel engine for the missile, which has a maximum thrust of 1,960 kilonewtons and is intended for both the Hwasong-19 and Hwasong-20 ICBM lines.
Reports suggest that North Korea aims to enhance the engine's thrust to enable missiles with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV), as it is believed to have the capability to strike anywhere in the continental U.S. with ICBMs with ranges exceeding 15,000 kilometers.
In September, KCNA reported Kim's supervision of a high-thrust solid-fuel missile engine test using composite carbon fiber material, indicating a "significant change" in the country's nuclear strategic forces.
In addition to the Hwasong-20, North Korea displayed other key missile systems, including hypersonic missiles and medium- and long-range strategic missiles, as well as weapons like the Chonma-20 main battle tank and drone launch vehicles.
Kim has expressed intentions to pursue both nuclear forces and conventional weapons development to build a formidable military, with plans to unveil a comprehensive policy at the upcoming party congress.
The military parade appears to have targeted both domestic and international audiences, showcasing North Korea's defense capabilities amid international isolation. Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University's Institute for Far Eastern Studies, noted that North Korea aims to bolster internal unity and external diplomatic and strategic standing through its military confidence.