SEOUL — South Korea's military expressed skepticism on Tuesday regarding North Korea's recent announcement of a successful new missile test, suggesting that the claim might be misleading. North Korea had reported that it tested the Hwasong-11Da-4.5 tactical ballistic missile, designed to carry a super-large warhead, on Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), South Korea detected the launch of two missiles, with one traveling approximately 600 km and the other about 120 km before exhibiting abnormal flight patterns and crashing. "The North's report is likely a form of deception," Lee stated during a regular military briefing. He noted that it is highly unusual for North Korea to conduct missile tests inland, as observed with the second missile, which reportedly fell in an uninhabited area near Pyongyang.
The military's scrutiny extends to the capabilities of the missile reported by North Korea, with ongoing analysis to determine if it indeed involves the new model claimed. North Korea's state media has stated that the Hwasong-11Da-4.5 can carry a 4.5-ton class warhead, though South Korea has previously assessed the Hwasong-11 series capable of carrying up to 2.5 tons. The JCS continues to investigate the veracity of North Korea's assertions, amid historical patterns of deceptive claims regarding its weapons tests.