North Korea Unveils New ICBM In Military Parade, What Threat Can It Pose?

North Korea unveiled a new intercontinental ballistic missile during a military parade Saturday that is believed to be the biggest of its kind, which shows the potential threat the nuclear-armed country could pose on its enemies going forward.

According to CNN, the ICBM was carried by an 11-axle truck at the climax of a ceremony and military parade in Pyongyang, and while analysts say it is not known to have been tested, a bigger weapon would increase the threat North Korea can pose, as it can allow for multiple warheads to be attached.

“What North Korea has shown us, what appear to be a new liquid-fueled ICBM that seems to be a derivative of what was tested back in late 2017, known as the Hwasong-15, is much bigger and clearly more powerful than anything in the SPRK’s arsenal,” Harry Kazianis, the senior director of Korean Studies at the Center for the National Interest told CNN.

CNN notes that when the Hwasong-15 was initially tested, it was reportedly capable of a range to hit much of the continental United States, making this new weapon, which is bigger, a potentially larger threat for the country.

However, the weapon could also have been for show during the parade, with Kim Jong Un vowing to strengthen his country’s nuclear strength following a stall in talks with President Trump. The New York Times reports that the ICBM could possibly be a mocked-up version of a real missile, with the intention of showing that advances are being made.

“We will continue to strengthen the war deterrent,” the North Korean leader reportedly said during a speech at the parade, stating it would also be a righteous means of self-defense from “hostile forces,” though he did not specify if those forces were the United States.