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Seoul warns that North Korea may test ICBM around US election

October 30, 2024 TruthUSA

The Chinese regime recently test-fired a missile into the Pacific Ocean, marking the first such test in four decades.

According to South Korean lawmakers, North Korea has positioned a launcher for an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could potentially be launched around the time of the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election.

On Oct. 30, South Korean parliamentary members briefed reporters on military intelligence after a closed-door hearing with Defense Intelligence Agency officials.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, South Korean Member of Parliament (MP) Lee Seong-kweun stated, “Preparations of a transporter-erector launcher (TEL) are complete, and it’s deployed at a specific location, and an ICBM launch for technological verification of warhead re-entry could take place, with a timing targeting the U.S. presidential election, either before or after, in November.”

MP Park Sun-won mentioned that the intelligence agency suspects a missile may have been transported to the launch site but has not been loaded yet.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had earlier this year announced an acceleration of its nuclear weapons program amid strengthening ties with Russia, and recent Pentagon reports confirmed the presence of about 10,000 North Korean troops in Russia.

Russian officials announced that they would hold strategic consultations with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Moscow. The purpose of her visit on Oct. 29 was not explicitly confirmed, but it has sparked discussions related to the war in Ukraine where North Korean troops are said to be present.

The United States recently imposed sanctions on a network involving five groups and one individual for facilitating payments between Russia and North Korea. These payments were intended to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine and Pyongyang’s weapons programs.

The U.S. sanctions have also been expanded to include 40 additional companies acting as middlemen for Russia.

Korean analysts have expressed concerns about the partnership between North Korea and Russia posing a significant threat to South Korea.

Doo Jin-ho, a research fellow at the Korean Institute for Defense Analyses, stated, “South Korea has had a special relationship with Russia and has developed bilateral ties with Russia through various diplomatic exchanges and cooperation as an allied nation. However, Russia is becoming a threat, not just as a neighboring country but as a real threat to South Korea.”

ICBMs are capable of striking distances greater than 3,500 miles. While North Korea’s ICBM test launches have been performed at steep trajectories, China recently test-fired an ICBM into the Pacific Ocean last month, marking the first such test in four decades.

U.S. defense officials have reported that China now possesses more ICBM launchers than the United States, with estimates of at least 500 nuclear warheads and a projected total of 1,000 by 2030.

The Pentagon’s 2024 nuclear report indicates that China is undergoing significant expansion and modernization of its nuclear forces, driven by strategic competition with the U.S.

The recent ICBM launches by China and North Korea have raised regional concerns, with analysts suggesting that these launches serve both domestic and international messaging purposes.

Manoj Kewalramani, a fellow for China studies, noted that the rushed ICBM test by China could be an attempt to alter the narrative among the Chinese populace amidst economic challenges.

This event has prompted Australia to enhance its missile defense and long-range strike capabilities, marking the beginning of a new “missile age.”

Minister for Defense Industry Pat Conroy announced that Australia is increasing its missile defense and long-range strike capability with the launch of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Plan.

Conroy highlighted the strategic competition between the United States and China as a key factor influencing Australia’s security policies, especially in light of recent ballistic missile tests by the Chinese military despite regional treaties.

The Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Plan report emphasizes the Chinese Communist Party as a major threat, allocating significant funds for the domestic production of missiles and munitions over the next decade.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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