Phxt South Korean military officials suspect that North Korea may have received secret Russian technological support in developing its powerful Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile.“
The South Korean military believes that North Korea may have received technological assistance from Russia in developing its Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chairman of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Jin Yong Sung stated on October 14 that North Korea may have received technological assistance from Russia during the development of its Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) — a weapon unveiled for the first time by Pyongyang during a recent military parade.
Pyongyang has described this weapon as “the most powerful strategic nuclear system” the country has ever possessed.
Military analysts noted that the design of the transporter erector launcher (TEL) for the Hwasong-20 differs significantly from that of the Hwasong-19, which North Korea first test-launched in October last year.
These changes have raised suspicions that Russia may have provided technology or components to support Pyongyang’s new missile development program, amid deepening military cooperation between the two nations.
Speaking at a parliamentary hearing, General Jin said: “I believe this possibility is fully plausible.” He also warned that the South Korean military is closely monitoring all of North Korea’s movements and preparing corresponding defense measures.
When asked about the South Korean military’s ability to intercept hypersonic missiles from North Korea, General Jin stated that “the accuracy may be slightly reduced, but interception is still possible.”
He acknowledged that the rapid advancement of North Korea’s weapons program poses “a serious concern,” but emphasized that these new systems still require additional time to verify their reliability and real-world performance.
As part of efforts to strengthen surveillance capabilities, South Korea is expanding the integrated use of both military and civilian satellites to ensure fast and continuous intelligence gathering.
“It is crucial to have data that is updated quickly and with high frequency,” he said.
South Korea launched its first reconnaissance satellite in December 2023, equipped with an electro-optical and infrared sensor capable of capturing detailed images. Since then, the country has launched three additional satellites using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors, which can collect data regardless of weather conditions.
According to the plan, the fifth reconnaissance satellite will be launched into orbit by the end of this year. Once completed, the satellite network will enable South Korea to monitor North Korean territory almost in real time, with updates approximately every two hours — a major leap forward in early-warning capabilities and countermeasures against potential threats from Pyongyang.
