North Korea’s Musudan missile could become operational next year, expert says

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A man watches a TV news programme showing a file image of a missile launch conducted by North Korea, at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: AP

Published: 5:02pm, 18 Oct 2016Updated: 5:02pm, 18 Oct 2016

North Korea’s Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile, capable of hitting the US territory of Guam in the Pacific, could become operational “sometime next year”, a US missile expert said on Monday.

“If they continue at this rate, the Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile could enter operational service sometime next year – much sooner than had previously been expected,” said John Schilling, an aerospace engineer with expertise in Pyongyang’s missile programmes.

Schilling was referring to last week’s failed launch by North Korea of what appeared to be a Musudan, which, if confirmed, would have been the country’s seventh test of the missile this year.

They are continuing with an aggressive test schedule that involves, at least this time, demonstrating new operational capabilities

John Schilling, aerospace engineer

“They are continuing with an aggressive test schedule that involves, at least this time, demonstrating new operational capabilities,” he wrote on 38 North, a website featuring analysis of North Korea.

“That increases the probability of individual tests failing, but it means they will learn more with each test even if it does result in failure.”

Following a series of failures, North Korea announced in June it successfully test-fired the Musudan.

It flew about 400km and reached an altitude of over 1,000 km, showing that it can function as an intermediate-range ballistic missile.