North Korea to develop MIRV and hypersonic missiles and nuclear submarine.

In his report to the 8th Party Congress held from Jan. 5 to 7, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said 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). Mun Dong Hui reports on Daily NK.
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New ICBM presented during the Party Foundation Day parade on Oct. 10, 2020 (Picture surce: 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 research is in the “final stage,” it appears North Korea has yet to acquire this technology, Mun Dong Hui writes.

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.

Daily NK’s report further said the new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) revealed during the same parade can carry four warheads, and that North Korea was conducting research to allow the SLBMs to carry eight warheads.

According to the KCNA, Kim said in his report that the Central Committee had chosen to move forward with developing “a nuclear-powered submarine and an underwater-launch nuclear strategic weapon which will that the new submarines will carry SLBMs, i.e. Pukkuksong-5, the country’s finalized SLBM.

The KCNA report further noted that “the tasks were brought up to develop and introduce hypersonic gliding flight warheads in a short period” and that the country “finished research into developing warheads of different combat missions including the hypersonic gliding flight warheads for new-type ballistic rockets and was making preparations for their test manufacture.”

KCNA reported that North Korea will “push ahead with the development of solid-fuel engine-propelled inter-continental underwater and ground ballistic rockets as scheduled.”