Original Source
North Korea's Hwasong Missiles Pose Threat to US Cities
North Korea's Hwasong Missile Development
North Korea's missile program is rapidly evolving, centered around the Hwasong series, which includes everything from short-range tactical missiles to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). These missiles utilize solid-fuel technology, allowing for faster and more concealed launches compared to liquid-fueled counterparts. The most lethal models are considered to be Hwasong-20, Hwasong-19, Hwasong-18, and Hwasong-17, all boasting a minimum range of 9,320 miles, putting major US cities like Washington, New York, and California within their reach.
Notably, the Hwasong-20, unveiled in October 2025, is North Korea's newest and most advanced solid-fueled ICBM. It is designed to be harder to detect and is equipped with advanced Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs), enabling it to strike multiple targets with a single missile. Traveling at hypersonic speeds up to Mach 22, the Hwasong-20 can reach major US cities within 25 to 40 minutes. The Hwasong-19, Hwasong-18, and Hwasong-17 also carry nuclear warheads and possess advanced MIRV capabilities, posing a similar threat.
US Missile Defense Systems and Their Limitations
Despite the US having a layered missile defense system, including Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD), Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (Aegis BMD), THAAD, and Patriot, their effectiveness against ICBMs like Hwasong is not guaranteed. The GMD, the primary defense against incoming projectiles, has a maximum success rate of 55-60% in scripted simulations, meaning at least one out of three missiles could still hit its target.
Aegis BMD, primarily designed for short-range targets on naval destroyers, can also intercept ICBMs. THAAD and Patriot are terminal defense systems used for regional defense of smaller geographical areas. However, the solid-fuel nature of North Korean missiles allows for quick deployment without significant delay, reducing reaction time. Moreover, the MIRV capability of these missiles, combined with decoys and multiple warheads, could overwhelm missile defenses, leading to the waste of expensive interceptors on fake targets or a swarm of targets. This makes it possible for such an attack to potentially overwhelm defenses through swarming and evasive techniques.
*Source: YouTube: WION (2026-03-17)*
