N. Korea shows signs of making further ICBM provocations

South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies reportedly detected on Thursday signs indicating that North Korea is set to make additional missile provocations. According to South Korean government sources, U.S. spy satellites and other surveillance equipment had detected movements of a transporter erector launcher (TEL) and other military vehicles preparing to get deployed to an unidentified location. Reportedly, signs of the possible provocations have been detected in an area near Pyongyang and in North Pyongan Province.

U.S. and South Korean military authorities have been known to be maintaining a high level of surveillance posture against the North, with early warning radars for ballistic missiles and Aegis-class naval vessels having beefed up their operational readiness posture. Some in the South Korean military raise the possibility of the North launching a new missile such as the Hwasong-13, let alone the inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM)-class Hwasong-14. Last month, North Korea’s official daily Rodong Sinmun reported that Pyongyang had been developing a new submarine-launched ballistic missile and the Hwasong-13, which is presumed to be an ICBM using solid fuel.

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com · Won-Jae Jang peacechaos@donga.com