“Kim Jong Un acquainted himself with the production of military hardware in the second half of the year.”
North Korea publicly revealed a new, larger ICBM transporter erector launcher (TEL) system, potentially for a new ICBM class. The communist Workers’ Party of Korea newspaper Rodong Sinmun, released a picture of Kim Jong Un inspecting a new 12-axle TEL. The disclosure happened as Kim Jong Un visited a defense industrial enterprise site on 8 September as part of events commemorating the 76th anniversary of the founding of the state.
Since North Korea’s first ICBM test launch on 4 July 2017, the PRK has been testing progressively larger ICBM missile systems and associated TELs. The Hwaseong-17, North Korea’s known largest ICBM, tested in 2023, already has an associated 11-axle TEL.1
The 12-axle TEL’s unveiling was uncharacteristically subdued by North Korean standards, presented almost as an afterthought buried in a technical piece about the PRK’s defense manufacturing goals. Apart from the associated image, the Rodong Sinmun article makes no reference to the TEL, instead highlighting Kim Jong Un’s visit to the site and his speech about the important work of the national defense industrial enterprise.
However, the photo release could not have been an accident and most likely had a messaging purpose.2 These could have included promoting a new, even larger missile system under development which the regime might reveal or test closer to the U.S. presidential election. Possibly, but less likely, it could represent a new and more survivable design for the existing Hwaseong systems. The subdued nature of the unveiling could likewise represent North Korea’s attempt to influence the narrative in Western, Japanese, and South Korean media, a sort of “we are still here” message that carries an implied threat to the next U.S. administration.
Sources:
Rodong Sinmun, “경애하는 김정은동지께서 국방공업기업소를 현지지도하시였다 (Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un Visits Defense Industrial Enterprises),” Rodong Sinmun (communist Workers’ Party of Korea daily newspaper), 8 Sep 2024. http://kcna.kp/kp/article/q/8bc7076c7ecb6af9065c66977903f00c.kcmsf
Pyongyang, September 8 (KCNA) — Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, visited a defence industrial enterprise under the Second Economy Commission to learn about the production of military hardware…
Highly appreciating the indomitable fighting spirit and extraordinary ideological and spiritual world of its officials and workers, he expressed thanks to them for carrying out the huge munitions production tasks in a responsible and correct way and making a great contribution to the development of our armed forces, true to the Party’s policy on munitions industry.
Learning about the structural characteristics, performance and tactical and technical specifications of military hardware under development and production, he stressed the need to put the munitions production on a more scientific and modern basis and thoroughly guarantee the combat performance of military hardware.
Repeatedly expressing his satisfaction over the fact that the prospect for confidently attaining the goal of military hardware production within the five-year period decided and assigned by the Eighth Party Congress is guaranteed thanks to the dynamic struggle of the munitions industry workers, he clarified the principles and ways for the defence industrial enterprise to hold fast to in the munitions production permanently.
Notes:
1 For more information on North Korean Hwaseong tests over the last three years, see: https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/weapons/north-korea-reveals-12-axle-tel
2 North Korea has a pattern in engaging new U.S. administrations in order to achieve its diplomatic and military goals. For further discussion on Pyongyang’s assessed course of action, see: https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/How-North-Korea-will-seek-to-play-the-next-U.S.-president