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Yesterday (27th) we delivered the news that the US has officially recognized that it is possible to mount a nuclear warhead on the KN-23, a new short-range ballistic missile made by North Korea.
It has been confirmed that the Korean government and military believe that not only the KN-23 but also the KN-24 can carry nuclear warheads and prepare countermeasures.
This is an exclusive report by Kim Tae-hoon, a defense reporter.
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In a report published on the 23rd, the US Congressional Research Service said, "The KN-23, called the North Korean version of Iskander, can carry a nuclear warhead and strike anywhere on the Korean Peninsula."
The North Korean version of ATACMS, or KN-24, showed a somewhat reserved attitude, replacing the possibility of mounting nuclear warheads with external expert opinions.
However, it has been confirmed that the South Korean government judges that both the KN-23 and 24 can carry nuclear warheads.
A key government source told SBS, "North Korea has recently intensively shot a lot of KN-23 and KN-24," and "analyzed that it conducted several tests for a nuclear attack on the Korean Peninsula."
North Korea has shot the KN-23 with a range of 600 km and the KN-24 with a range of 500 km equally since 2019 more than 10 times each.
It is the most frequently launched missile in the last four years.
A government source said, "It is believed that North Korea has reduced the diameter of nuclear warheads to less than 60 cm in the meantime."
Our military believes that North Korea can use the KN-23 and KN-24 for a nuclear attack on the Korean Peninsula, and is preparing various countermeasures, such as significantly expanding reconnaissance satellites and strike means.
North Korea is expected to make efforts to strengthen its strategic nuclear capabilities by increasing test launches of medium-to-long-range and submarine-launched missiles that are relatively less complete in the future.
(Video coverage: Hwang In-seok, video editing: Lee Seung-jin, CG: Jo Soo-in)