Going Big: North Korea Missile Launch Sends Messages to the US, EU

The report added that the country's leader Kim Jong-un closely watched the launch and described it as indicating the Pyongyong's resolve to respond to foreign threats. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said the missile, which crashed about 300 kilometers (190 miles) west of Japan's Okushiri island anear the northern Hokkaido region, has been the longest of Pyongyang's past missile tests.

Technical specifications of the the new missile 

North Korea's long-range missile launch at long distances means firing the missile vertically. This launch method allows the missile to be launched to a very high altitude and then land a short horizontal distance from the launch site. Such launches are said to allow Pyongyang to test this type of missile to better understand the challenges it will face when re-entering the earth's atmosphere.

According to American experts who spoke to ABC News, given the color and shape of the exhaust flames seen in North Korean state media photos at the time of launch, the launched missile used pre-loaded solid fuel. This fuel makes launched weapons more agile and harder to detect than missiles that use liquid propellants.

Lee Sangmin, an expert at the South Korean Institute for Defense Analysis, believes that as launchers get bigger, their mobility will decrease.

Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at the Seoul Research Institute for National Strategy, believes the Hwasong-19 is at least 28 meters (92 feet) long, although the advanced American and Russian models are less than 20 meters (66 feet) long. According to the expert, the size of North Korea's large missile may have helped South Korean intelligence officials to detect its launch before it became operational.

South Korea Defense Network expert Lee Ilwoo told Reuters that North Korea may have built a larger missile to carry larger and more destructive warheads or multiple warheads. If so, North Korea may use liquid propellants because they provide higher thrust than solid propellants, and some liquid propellants can be stored in missiles for weeks before firing, the expert said. He added that North Korea may have placed a dummy, empty warhead on the Hwasong-19 to boost it and test the missile's range. 

Pyongyong's current missile power status 

In recent years, North Korea has reported steady progress in its nuclear-capable missile program. Many foreign experts, especially in the US, believe that North Korea probably has missiles that can carry out nuclear attacks on all of South Korea's territory, it still does not have nuclear missiles that can reach the US mainland. 

According to experts, North Korea faces some technical obstacles to develop its missile program that it must overcome, and these technical obstacles include ensuring that the warheads of the launch missiles remain intact against the heat and pressure of re-entry into the atmosphere. Also, it is necessary for missile guidance systems to be upgraded and able to use multiple warheads on one missile to beat defense systems.

Given the ballistic missiles' exit from the earth's atmosphere when they are launched and their return before hitting the target on the ground, acquiring the technology to re-enter the atmosphere is the main focus of North Korea in developing its missile power. The American National Radio has reported that North Korea has only focused on increasing its range in relation to ICBMs, and the technology of returning these missiles to the ground after leaving the atmosphere has not yet been completed. 

Political message of the launch 

The missile launch appears to be carrying political messages:

Message to Washington: North Korea's recent ballistic missile launch is the country's first in nearly a year, and was largely designed to draw the US attention days before the presidential election. It is as if Pyongyang intends to show that even with the change of administration in the US, Pyongyong policies will remain the same.

Response to warnings about involvement in Ukraine war: Recently, Western reports claimed that North Carolina Korea sent forces to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine. The allegations were followed by Western condemnation. So, perhaps this missile launch is conducted to flex muscles to the West. Pyongyong has repeatedly said it stands by Moscow in its confrontation of the West. 

European fear: It should be taken into account that currently South Korea and Japan are extremely concerned about change of the administration in the White House. The possibility of Trump winning the elections has motivated Japan to mull moving to security and defense cooperation with the European Union. In fact, the shadow of return of Trump to the White and House and establishing close ties with North Korean leader has already frightened the Europeans and East Asian countries, and the missile launch will double this fear for them.