Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Hwasong-17

Mains level: Nuclear Proliferation by N Korea

hwasong

North Korea said it test-fired its massive new Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Hwasong-17

The Hwasong-17 is nuclear-armed North Korea’s biggest missile yet, and is the largest road-mobile, liquid-fuelled ICBM in the world.
Its diameter is estimated to be between 2.4 and 2.5 metres, and its total mass, when fully fuelled, is likely somewhere between 80,000 and 110,000 kg.
Unlike North Korea’s earlier ICBMs, the Hwasong-17 is launched directly from a transporter, erector, and launcher (TEL) vehicle with 11 axles, photos by state media showed.

How far can it fly?

The missile launched on Friday flew nearly 1,000 km (621 miles) for about 69 minutes and reached a maximum altitude of 6,041 km.
The weapon could travel as far as 15,000 km (9,320 miles), enough to reach the continental United States.

North Korea is wary of joint drills between the US and South Korea and believes them to be a rehearsal for invasion and proof of hostile policies.
Notably, Pyongyang’s record launches this year began even before military exercises between the allies, one also involving Japan.
While it says it is responding to the “provocative” drills, some analysts believe that Kim Jong-un must be setting the stage for something bigger— the resumption of nuclear testing after five years.
Pyongyang may also be showcasing its pre-emptive abilities in response to South Korea’s own pre-emptive “kill chain” strategy.

North Korea pulled out of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) in January 2003 and has conducted six nuclear tests so far since 2006.
Diplomatic talks have been starting and halting over the past two decades.
The Six-Party Talks involving South and North Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States, started in 2003, have since stalled with changing geopolitical dynamics.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump met with Kim Jong-un thrice between 2018 and 2019 but talks broke down and resulted in more sanctions from the West and increased testing by Pyongyang.
The Joe Biden administration did make attempts to restart talks, and North Korea has not seemed keen either.