The sports category has moved to a new website.
ADVERTISEMENT

Analysts try to identify country's failed missile type

The Pentagon has not discussed which missile blew up "almost immediately" after launch early Sunday from near Sinpo on the North's east coast.

An unidentified mobile rocket lancher is displayed during a military parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung, in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017

The Pentagon has not discussed which missile blew up "almost immediately" after launch early Sunday from near Sinpo on the North's east coast, and the White House has said only that it was a medium-range device.

John Schilling, a weapons expert with the 38 North monitoring group, said the launch failure was indicative of a new systems test.

"The discussion of it failing very early in launch, that's a common failure mode for North Korean missiles very early on in their development cycle when they are working out the bugs in the propulsion and guidance system," Schilling told AFP.

ADVERTISEMENT

"More detail would always be nice. But I am going to suspect that this was a new missile or certainly one that has not been well-developed."

Anonymous US officials told Fox News the missile was a new type of Scud called the KN-17 -- a single-stage, liquid-fueled missile -- that could be used to target ships.

Schilling thought the test could have been of a new design that Kim showed off in a massive military parade Saturday in Pyongyang.

That missile was being carried on a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile transporter, but was a different type of device, Schilling said.

"That's something that we've never seen tested. If they are trying to demonstrate that as a real capability, it would make sense for them to test it as soon as possible after showing it to the world."

ADVERTISEMENT

Susan Thornton, acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said it was difficult to glean much information given how quickly the rocket failed.

"Our understanding is that it was not one of the longer-range missiles that they were trying to test there. It was something like a medium-range ballistic missile but still with prohibited technology, but it's still an object of ongoing discussion," Thornton said.

Nuclear review

Sunday's launch failure led some observers to speculate that US hacking efforts might have played a role.

The New York Times last month reported that under former president Barack Obama the US stepped up cyber attacks against North Korea to try to sabotage its missiles before launch or just as they lift off.

ADVERTISEMENT

Britain's former Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind told the BBC "there is a very strong belief that the US -- through cyber methods -- has been successful on several occasions in interrupting these sorts of tests and making them fail."

But Schilling said the ability to hack North Korea's missiles is overblown.

"From what we know of North Korean missiles, the propulsion technology in particular is fairly primitive with no digital or electronics to be hacked," said Schilling said.

The 38 North program is part of the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Washington.

Also Monday, Pentagon chief Jim Mattis ordered the start of a review of America's nuclear deterrent to ensure it is "safe, secure, effective, reliable and appropriately tailored to deter 21st-century threats and reassure our allies," officials said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Such reviews take place every seven years or so.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: news@pulselive.co.ke

Recommended articles

Frida Mokaya appointed new Chief Registrar of the Judiciary

Frida Mokaya appointed new Chief Registrar of the Judiciary

Death toll in Kenyatta University bus accident rises

Death toll in Kenyatta University bus accident rises

Rita Tinina's final moments & illness

Rita Tinina's final moments & illness

Man who was with Brian Chira reveals his final words

Man who was with Brian Chira reveals his final words

Ruto celebrates 29-year-old earning Sh68K per week via online jobs

Ruto celebrates 29-year-old earning Sh68K per week via online jobs

Gachagua's promise to Kapsabet Boys School after accident that left 2 dead, scores injured

Gachagua's promise to Kapsabet Boys School after accident that left 2 dead, scores injured

Brian Chira's family seeks help following his tragic death

Brian Chira's family seeks help following his tragic death

Details of Ruto & Raila's grand strategy to secure Commission Chair seat

Details of Ruto & Raila's grand strategy to secure Commission Chair seat

President Ruto's bold declaration on the economy & signs that Kenya is going places

President Ruto's bold declaration on the economy & signs that Kenya is going places

ADVERTISEMENT