OPINION:
The Musudan intermediate range ballistic missile could be operational next year due to an aggressive testing schedule by the North Korean military. The missile will be able to deliver a payload to American bases in Japan and Guam. Although the weapon recently failed on the launch pad, a Washington based think tank, 38North.org, says the test launch provided a wealth of data that will be improved upon quickly.
The test was also conducted away from their primary launch pad. “Moving to a roadside near Kusong is like taking the training wheels off the bicycle, seeing if you really have mastered something new,” wrote 38North.org. “There is a saying in our military that amateurs practice until they get it right, but professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong. The North Koreans have just shown that they can still get it wrong, but they are still practicing.”
North Korea claims it has the technology to develop a miniaturized nuclear warhead and place it atop such a missile. This capability has not been proven publicly by Western intelligence services.
“They are continuing with an aggressive test schedule that involves, at least this time, demonstrating new operational capabilities. That increases the probability of individual tests failing, but it means they will learn more with each test,” said 38North.org.
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