North Korea Launches 2 Submarine Cruise Missiles as HS-20 Display Signals 6-Warhead ICBM Ambitions
Updated
Updated · 38 North · Oct 29
North Korea Launches 2 Submarine Cruise Missiles as HS-20 Display Signals 6-Warhead ICBM Ambitions
3 articles · Updated · 38 North · Oct 29
Summary
October 14 launches of two submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles appear to mark the start of sea trials for North Korea’s “tactical nuclear attack sub,” a converted ROMEO-class boat first unveiled in 2023.
Photos suggest one missile was fired from a vertical launch tube and one from a torpedo tube, indicating the submarine can deploy cruise missiles in multiple ways and potentially carry ballistic missiles later in testing.
The same media release also showcased the untested Hwasong-20 solid-fuel ICBM at a new defense museum, with placards indicating US-spanning range and a MIRV payload of six reentry vehicles.
That MIRV claim remains aspirational: North Korea has not successfully flight-tested MIRVs, and analysts say the apparent reentry vehicles may still require full-range ICBM testing before becoming credible.
Together, the submarine imagery and HS-20 display suggest Pyongyang is signaling continued progress toward a more survivable nuclear force able to threaten the continental US despite missile defenses.
Can North Korea’s converted Romeo-class submarine become a credible nuclear strike platform, or is it mainly a political signal wrapped in military theater?
Why is Kim Jong Un showcasing missiles in an underground museum while testing cruise missiles from an aging submarine at sea?
Is North Korea’s new Hwasong-20 a real MIRV breakthrough, or a carefully staged warning meant to outpace its proven technology?