North Korean media released photos on Wednesday of previously unrevealed missiles using more efficient solid fuel. In theory, these new missiles could reach any target in the continental US including New York and Washington DC.
8/ Thus, the ability to produce large wound-filament casings was crucial to the development of Soviet road-mobile ICBMs & IRBMs. pic.twitter.com/zWQcWMjtg7
— Michael Duitsman (@DuitsyWasHere) April 21, 2017
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published photos showing their supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, inspecting parts of a three-stage missile called the Hwasong-13. The photos were accompanied by a statement.
“[Kim Jong Un] instructed the institute to produce more solid-fuel rocket engines and rocket warhead tips by further expanding engine production process and the production capacity of rocket warhead tips and engine jets by carbon/carbon compound material,” the statement read.
Solid fuel rockets stand ready to be launched at a moments notice since the fuel is stored in the rocket. Liquid fuel rockets must be filled with fuel before launch, which can take up to an hour. Solid fuel rockets are less susceptible to counter attacks.
Left: fuel tank from Kim’s visit to the Chemical Institute today.
Right: Aramid fiber seized en route to DPRK by Russian customs last year. pic.twitter.com/vHPDNXFmlb— Michael Duitsman (@DuitsyWasHere) August 23, 2017
Tensions between the US and North Korea are already high due to the rogue Asian nation’s ongoing nuclear weapons’ program and their ICBM tests. North Korea has already threatened the United States with a nuclear strike.
