South Korea, the United States and Japan are struggling to deal with North Korea’s growing military presence, indicated new reports published on Thursday.





In a newly published white papers by the defense forces of three nations, North Korea already has the ability to launch the liquid-fuel Rodong ballistic missile, which has a maximum range of 1,300 km, possibly fitted with a nuclear warhead, according to the white paper. Therefore, missiles from Pyongyang can cover most areas as far as Japan. 

South Korea would have only around 15 minutes to prevent a new type of the missile launch by its northern neighbor.

Tokyo’s 2020 defense white paper states that solid-fuel SRBMs with a range of 400 to 600 km can hit only some parts of western Japan. But the technology is expected to be applied to longer-range missiles as well.
While most of Pyongyang’s ballistic missiles operate on liquid fuel, the country has successively launched solid-fuel short-range ballistic missiles since spring last year.



North Korea missiles are becoming more difficult to detect
and harder to intercept



Missiles that use solid fuel, which can be completed in advance through mixing with an oxidizing agent, can be fired more quickly than their liquid-fuel counterparts.

Solid fuel also helps to prevent enemies from detecting planned launches.

 The attacked parties would have a much more difficult time intercepting solid-fuel missiles because they can more easily be fired continuously.

But the reaction to the attempt of the attack would be preemptive, according to the papers. Under the plan joint Operations Plan 5027 the rapid-reaction-platforms are supposed to hit North Korean missile bases immediately after signs of launches are detected. 

Within 30 minutes, around 700 missile facilities and other strategic targets in North Korea will be attacked.

All of the allies in the region would be notified beforehand if the situation reaches a level at which a political decision must be made.



North's new weaponry

The situation in the region is unstable after North unveiled large ballistic missiles and other new weaponry during an Oct. 10 military parade in Pyongyang.

According to the retired US military specialist, who wanted to remain anonymous due to the sensitive subject, the North Korea raised concerns about its short-term intentions.

The exhibit which troubled Western allies in the region was a new intercontinental ballistic missile that was slightly larger than the Hwasong-15 ICBM. The Hwasong-15 is believed capable of traveling more than 12,000 kilometers to reach the U.S. east coast.

However, one detail maybe an evidence that the North is still few steps away from the most modern missile technology, the mobile launcher carrying the new ICBM had as many as 11 axles, meaning the system cannot run on rough or sloping roads. Therefore, the launching unit cannot travel long distances, making it difficult to use in combat.