Image Credits : wsvn
North Korea has introduced a new 12-axle transporter erector launcher (TEL) designed to carry intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), underscoring its continued focus on expanding its missile capabilities. The development was revealed during leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to a missile launch vehicle factory, accompanied by senior officials, including his sister Kim Yo Jong and his daughter, Ju-ae.
The new launcher is larger than the previously known 11-axle TEL used for North Korea’s Hwasong-17 ICBM, a missile already capable of reaching targets across the United States. The new design is expected to handle even more advanced weaponry, reflecting the North’s growing focus on improving its strategic missile forces. The TELs are essential in the deployment of ICBMs, as they provide both mobility and concealment, making it harder for adversaries to track and target the missile systems before launch.
One of the missiles associated with the new TEL is the Hwasong-18, North Korea’s first solid-fuel ICBM, which was initially tested in April 2024. Solid-fuel missiles offer significant advantages over liquid-fuel variants, including faster deployment and reduced preparation time before launch. This makes them less vulnerable to preemptive strikes, heightening concerns among the international community regarding North Korea’s growing capability to launch a nuclear strike with little warning.
During the factory visit, Kim Jong Un emphasized the strategic importance of the new launchers, calling them a “top priority” in North Korea’s efforts to bolster its defence capabilities. The leader urged for rapid and continuous production of these launchers, citing the “grave situation” facing the country and its need to be fully prepared for potential military confrontations with its enemies.
This development is a part of North Korea’s broader efforts to enhance its nuclear and missile programs, defying multiple rounds of international sanctions. Kim’s rhetoric, particularly his warning about a “military showdown,” signals an increase in the country’s determination to develop its military capabilities amid escalating tensions with the U.S. and its allies. The regime has frequently cited joint military exercises between Washington and Seoul as provocations, using these as a justification for its own weapons tests and military advancements.