Description

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Context:

North Korea has successfully test-fired the new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Key Features and Comparison:

Attribute	Hwasong-19 (North Korea)	Minuteman III (United States)	RS-24 Yars (Russia)	DF-41 (China)
Purpose	Long-range intercontinental ballistic missile; aims to deter external threats and assert North Korea’s military capabilities	Designed for long-range precision nuclear strike capabilities	Long-range ICBM with high mobility; equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs)	Long-range ICBM capable of reaching distant targets, with MIRV capability
Fuel Type	Solid fuel, enhancing mobility and readiness by eliminating the need for on-site fueling	Solid fuel	Solid fuel	Solid fuel
Size	Estimated to be over 28 meters long, significantly larger than similar ICBMs	Smaller than Hwasong-19	Smaller than Hwasong-19	Smaller than Hwasong-19
Detection Risk	High detection risk due to large size and transport vehicles, raising concerns about survival in actual combat	Lower detection risk due to compact size and established deterrence capabilities	Lower detection risk due to mobility and established deployment infrastructure	Lower detection risk due to mobility and China’s strategic deployment
Range	Long-range xs(exact range classified)	Approximately 13,000 km	Approximately 12,000 km	Over 12,000 km
MIRV Capability	Likely not equipped with MIRVs	No MIRVs	Equipped with MIRVs	Equipped with MIRVs

READ ABOUT ICBM

ICBM

Short and Long Range Ballistic Missiles

Source

INDIA.COM

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about Hwasong-19:

It is a North Korean two-stage solid-fuel Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).
It is estimated to be significantly larger than similar ICBMs from other nations.

Which of the above-given statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: b

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Hwasong-19 is a North Korean three-stage solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) successfully tested for the first time on October 31, 2024 by the Korean People's Army.

Statement 2 is correct: Estimated to be over 28 meters long, significantly larger than similar ICBMs from other nations. Large size and transport vehicles make it easier to detect, raising concerns about its survival in actual combat.