A cruise missile launch experiment announced by North Korea.



How is it different from conventional missiles?


What is the threat to Japan?



We spoke with Yu Koizumi, a military analyst at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo.

What is the aim of developing cruise missiles?

According to the North Korean announcement this time, "I hit a target 1500 kilometers away", but if that is true, the range is too long for a missile to attack South Korea.



In South Korea, 500 to 800 kilometers is sufficient, so it is a goal other than the Korean Peninsula.



And all that remains is Russia, China and Japan.



Considering that it was not purposely developed for Russia or China, the main targets may be Japan, especially US military bases in Japan.

What are the characteristics of this cruise missile?

A well-known cruise missile is the US military "Tomahawk."



A computer-controlled guidance device approaches the target while reading the terrain and lands within a few meters of the target, making it a highly accurate missile that can also carry a nuclear warhead.



In addition to the ground, it can be launched from warships including submarines.



From the photos, it looks like a very orthodox cruise missile, but it is still clear from this photo and announcement whether it has the same capabilities as the "Tomahawk" such as mounting a nuclear warhead and launching from a submarine. not.



However, I think it is the first time that North Korea has made this kind of weapon.

How advanced is missile technology?

What I don't know is whether or not we are making this engine ourselves.



Making an engine that is small and has a large output requires technology, so I don't think North Korea is making everything from scratch.



Then the other is how to guide this cruise missile.



In particular, I think the most difficult phase is to skip the low part like weaving the terrain at the final stage and hit the target accurately.



Looking at the announcement from the North Korean side this time, the words "end guidance" and "guidance of the last part" come out, so I think there is no doubt that it is a cruise missile with such capabilities. It is still not clear from the outside how accurate is actually.

How threatening is it to Japan?

I think it will be a new threat.



Among North Korean missiles, ballistic missiles have been a major threat to Japan so far.



As far as North Korea's missile defense is concerned, Japan should have been concerned mainly about ballistic missiles, but now it has to consider a new factor of cruise missiles.



In addition to ballistic missiles flying from ultra-high altitudes, I think it will be an opportunity to think about comprehensive missile aviation defense, including scenarios where cruise missiles that are slower and harder to find fly.