North Korea launched a ballistic missile from the Wonsan area on October 3 that travelled about 700 kilometers before falling into the East Sea. While the observed distance is compatible with deployed Hwasong-11 tactical missiles, Seoul is examining whether Pyongyang instead tested a longer-range system below its maximum reach. North Korea fired a ballistic missile from Wonsan that covered approximately 700 kilometers before falling into the East Sea, leaving the weapon’s classification unresolved. The flight could correspond to a Hwasong-11 tactical missile already in North Korean service, but South Korean authorities are also assessing whether the launch involved a longer-range missile deliberately restricted to a shorter trajectory, which would distinguish the test from Pyongyang’s regular short-range firings from its eastern coast. Read more.
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| A North Korean KN-23 Hwasong-11Ga short-range ballistic missile during a launch. The missile fired on October 3 has not yet been identified and may belong to a different class. (Picture source: KCNA) |