North Korea confirms development of hypersonic missiles

January 12, 2021

Daily NK:

 

In his report to the Eighth Party Congress held from Jan. 5 to 7, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that North Korea is “conducting research into perfecting the guidance technology for multi-warhead rockets at the final stage,” according to the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA).

The “guidance technology for multi-warhead rockets” Kim mentioned seems to refer to multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) technology. Usually, a single ballistic missile carries a single warhead. When a missile carries multiple warheads, it is called a multiple reentry vehicle (MRV). MIRVs take this one step further. All of the warheads in an MRV follow the same trajectory, while a MIRV’s warheads can be directed at different targets.

However, since Kim said that research is in the “final stage,” it appears North Korea has yet to acquire this technology.

Quoting a source in North Korea, Daily NK reported last October that the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) unveiled at the Party Foundation Day military parade could carry two warheads, and that North Korea plans to increase this to four by 2022, by miniaturizing and refining its nuclear warheads…

 

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