Corea del Norte ha confirmado el lanzamiento exitoso de misiles balísticos de corto alcance para ser lanzados desde submarinos. Los ensayos del misil Pukguksong–3 llevados a cabo el 02oct19, aparentemente empleando una plataforma de lanzamiento naval (No pudiendo confirmarse que fuera un submarino), mencionan un alcance de 450km y altura máxima de 910km. Disponer de la capacidad de lanzamiento de vectores con cabeza nuclear, empleando submarinos como plataformas, coloca al citado país entre los pocos en condiciones de hacer uso de un arma estratégica de estas características.
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea confirmed Thursday it has carried out its first underwater-launched ballistic missile test in three years, in an apparent bid to dial up pressure on the United States ahead of a weekend resumption of their nuclear diplomacy.
Wednesday’s test of the Pukguksong-3 missile, which North Korea describes as a submarine-launched ballistic missile, is seen as the North’s most high-profile weapons launch since it began diplomacy with the United States early last year. Some experts say North Korea wants to show to the U.S. what would happen if diplomacy fails again.
The Korean Central News Agency said the missile test in the waters off its east coast was successful and “ushered in a new phase in containing the outside forces’ threat to (North Korea) and further bolstering its military muscle for self-defense.”
It didn’t say which outside forces threaten its security. But North Korea has previously said it was forced to develop nuclear-armed missiles to cope with U.S. military threats.
The KCNA report didn’t elaborate on whether the missile was fired from a submarine, a barge or other underwater launch platform. North Korea-dispatched photos showed the missile rising and spewing bright flames above a cloud of smoke from the sea, but the launch platform was not identifiable.
Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seoul’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies, wrote on Facebook that the missile was likely fired from a barge built for an underwater launch. He said the missile is under development and that North Korea must test-fire it from a submarine before deploying it. (end of excerpt)
