Analysis | Analysts cast doubt on North Korea's ICBM re-entry capability
An intercontinental ballistic missile launched late last week by North Korea appears to have disintegrated before splashing down
US and South Korean experts on Tuesday said Japanese video footage capturing the Hwasong-14’s re-entry vehicle shortly before it crashed into the sea suggests it failed to survive the extreme heat and pressure after re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere following its launch from northern North Korea on Friday.
But the apparent failure likely means the North will conduct more flight tests of the Hwasong-14 missile to ensure the warhead could survive the re-entry from space and hit its intended target, the analyst said.
However, whether North Korea can arm the missile with a nuclear warhead and protect it throughout the flight are different questions entirely.
After analysing video from a rooftop camera operated by Japan’s NHK television on the northern island of Hokkaido, US missile expert Michael Elleman concluded that Hwasong-14’s re-entry vehicle “disintegrated” before it landed at sea.