North Korea tests new system improving the effectiveness of tactical nuclear weapons

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen the test firing of a new weapon system that will increase the effectiveness of his tactical nuclear weapons, officials said on Sunday state media, capping celebrations surrounding the country’s founder’s birthday. On the heels of Kim Il-sung’s 110th birthday, North Korea unveils a new advance in its weapons program with this test firing of a new system. The launch is the latest in an unprecedented series of sanctions-busting weapons tests this year, including the firing of a full-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) last month. “Is of great significance to radically improve the firepower of long-range artillery units and enhance the efficiency of the exploitation of tactical nuclear weapons,” the official KCNA news agency said. She added that the test was successful, without specifying the exact date or the place where this test firing was carried out. The staff of the South Korean armed forces had indicated that they had detected two projectiles, launched late Saturday. They flew over a distance of 110 kilometers at an altitude of 25 kilometers, with a speed of approximately Mach 4. The United States indicated that it was “aware” of the North Korean statement referring to this test and that they were monitoring the situation, a Pentagon spokesman said. Photos published by the Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed a smiling Kim, surrounded by uniformed officials and cheering as he watched what was described as the test firing of tear. The leader gave the military research team “important instructions on continuing to build defense capabilities and nuclear combat forces,” the KCNA news agency added. This undated photo, transmitted on April 17, 2022 by North Korea’s official KCNA news agency, shows the test firing of a new weapon system intended to increase the effectiveness of the country’s tactical nuclear weapons. AP Short-range ballistic missileAccording to analysts, the weapon would be a new, but no less important short-range ballistic missile. “This test of a tactical nuclear delivery device comes amid mounting evidence of major reconstruction work at North Korea’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site,” said Carnegie senior researcher Ankit Panda. Endowment for International Peace. Satellite imagery showed signs of new activity in a tunnel at the Punggye-ri site, which North Korea says was demolished in 2018 ahead of the first Trump-Kim summit. On Friday, North Korea celebrated the 110th birthday of North Korea’s founding leader, Kim Jong-un’s grandfather, Kim Il-sung (1912-1994), with a huge public procession, fireworks and synchronized dancing. There was, however, no military parade, as many observers had predicted. South Korean and American analysts and officials had also believed that a nuclear test was possible on this important anniversary. These celebrations took place three weeks after the largest intercontinental ballistic missile test ever carried out by Pyongyang, a first since 2017 At a key party congress in January 2021, Kim Jong-un presented a five-year defense development plan, calling for the development of superior nuclear technology and the manufacture of smaller and lighter nuclear weapons. for “more tactical uses”. These remarks signal a return to nuclear testing. The presence of Kim Jong-un at the launch of a short-range missile, the first in more than two years, suggests a “special significance”, according to Panda. Towards a seventh test? Last month’s test marked the end of a self-imposed moratorium on long-range and nuclear testing, which had been suspended after Kim’s meeting with then-US President Donald Trump. Officials and analysts say North Korea could conduct its seventh nuclear test in the coming weeks. Satellite images have shown signs of new activity in a tunnel at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site. North Korea has tested nuclear weapons six times since 2006 and has touted the success of its latest and the most powerful in 2017, a hydrogen bomb with an estimated yield of 250 kilotons. With a new nuclear test, experts believe Pyongyang will seek to miniaturize nuclear warheads to mount on its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). South Korean officials have said Pyongyang could still hold a military parade or conduct a weapons test on or around April 25, the anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army. This anniversary coincides with the joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington, which are due to begin on Monday. South Korea and the United States regularly organize military exercises, but Pyongyang has regularly protested against these exercises by denouncing preparations for a war. With AFP