Hyonhee Shin, Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters – North Korea’s missile test capabilities have increased, with at least one claim of a hypersonic weapon. This was in the midst of a fierce race to produce long-range weapons which will be harder to find and intercept.

South Korean military officials have cast doubts https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-casts-doubts-north-koreas-hypersonic-missile-claims-2022-01-07 on North Korea’s claim a missile fired last week was hypersonic, but on Tuesday officials in Seoul said the North appeared to have test fired https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nkorea-launches-possible-ballistic-missile-japan-says-2022-01-10 another missile that flew at relatively low altitudes at up to 10 times the speed of sound (12,348 kmh/7,673 mph).

North Korea has not confirmed the launch. However, the performance of the missile and its launch site reported by South Korea suggest that it could be another hypersonic weapon.

North Korea’s first hypersonic weapon test was conducted last year by China and Russia.

HOW THE MISSSILES WORK

A hypersonic missile typically launches a warhead at a speed greater than sound, which is approximately 6,200 km/hour (3,850mph), and often maneuvers at very low altitudes.

According to analysts, the primary feature of hypersonic weapon isn’t speed (which can sometimes be matched and exceeded by traditional missile warheads), but manoeuvrability.

North Korea’s September hypersonic missile launch included a glider-shaped warhead. Last week’s launch was instead a “conical manoeuvrable and reentry vessel (MaRV), which analysts believe is a ballistic missile warhead capable in manoeuving to hit a target.

A combination of a glider vehicle and a missile capable of launching it partly into orbit, a fractional orbital bombing system (FOBS), could be used to deprive adversaries both in terms traditional defenses as well as reaction time.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, are capable of carrying nuclear warheads along ballistic trajectories. These trajectories travel to space but never reach orbit.

WHO DIRECTS THE RACE?

China launched last year a rocket that carried a hypersonic glider. The vehicle flew in space and circled the earth before slowing down to reach its destination. [L1N2RD01Y]

Russia tested the Tsirkon (Zircon), a hypersonic cruise missile that can reach speeds of up to 450 km per hour. This missile was part of Russia’s new missile system, President Vladimir Putin claimed. Moscow tested the weapon using a submarine. [L8N2R017O]

Late September saw the United States announce that it has tested an air breathing hypersonic weapon. It can sustain flight through the atmosphere just like a cruise-missile. This was the first test that had been made of this type of weapon since 2013.

North Korea launched a new hypersonic missile just days after U.S. officials announced it. They called the weapon a strategic weapon that increased its defense capabilities. However, some analysts in South Korea considered the test a failure.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

The recent tests are the moves in a dangerous arms race in which smaller Asian nations are striving to develop advanced long-range missiles https://graphics.reuters.com/ASIA-MISSILES/xklpyxajkvg/asia-missiles.jpg, alongside major military powers.

The potential for hypersonic weaponry and FOBS to evade early warning and missile shields could make them a problem.

Experts cautioned against the hype around missiles like that tested by China in August.

Jeffrey Lewis (a U.S. missile specialist at James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies) stated that China has already 100 nuclear-armed ICBMs which can strike the U.S. While the glider can be nice, it is not a new concept and is useful in defeating missile defences.