미사일 전문가 “북 ‘화성18형’ 러 실전배치 다탄두 ICBM과 동일” — RFA 자유아시아방송

미사일 전문가 “북 ‘화성18형’ 러 실전배치 다탄두 ICBM과 동일” — RFA 자유아시아방송 Missile expert: "Same as North Korea's Hwasong 18, a fielded multi-warhead ICBM" 워싱턴-이상민 lees@rfa.org 2023.07.14 Russia's multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile (SS-27 Mod 2) and North Korea's recently test-fired "Hwasong-18" (right). /Theodore Postol MIT대 교수 00:00/02:48 Anchor: North Korea's recent test-firing of the Hwasong-18 has prompted analysis that it is the same as Russia's multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile (SS-27 Mod 2). Reporter Lee Sang-min reports. Theodore Postol, professor emeritus of science, technology, and national security policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, told Radio Free Asia (RFA) on Thursday that his analysis of a video of North Korea's Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch suggests it is identical to Russia's SS-27 Mod 2. Prof. Postol, a renowned missile expert, said he compared photos of a Russian ICBM launch (in 2020) with the Hwasong-18 seen in the North Korean missile launch video released on December 12. Prof. Postol: Look at the outlines of the two missiles. They have the same proportions between the first stage and the second and third stages. They both have a wider first stage. The front of the missile is also similar. They're the same length and width. It's very unlikely that these are two different missiles. He added that this Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (SS-27 Mod 2) is a solid-fuel-propelled, multi-warhead ICBM that can carry a number of decoys designed to confuse and disrupt enemy detection facilities and interceptors. Prof. Postol: This missile from Russia can carry three warheads. It can carry one or two, but it has the capability to carry up to three warheads and a large number of decoys. Prof. Postol emphasized that this shows that North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles and related technology came from Russia. A side-by-side comparison of Russia's SS-27 Mod 2 missile launch with North Korea's Hwasong 18 ICBM. /Courtesy of Prof. Postol Russia's SS-27 Mod 2 (Russian name Topol-M) missile is a solid-fuel-powered intercontinental ballistic missile that has been in development since 2004 and was fielded in 2010 after several tests, according to missile defense data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CISIS). It is capable of being launched from both mobile and underground facilities, having been launched from a mobile launcher (TEL) during its first test in May 2007 and from an underground silo in 2014. It is 22.5 meters long and 2 meters in diameter and can carry three multiple independently-targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). He believes that North Korea's possession of a Russian-deployed multiwarhead ICBM would put a tremendous strain on the security alliance between the United States, South Korea, and Japan. He added that the fact that Russia provided the relevant technology to North Korea would be another case of violating international norms. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense responded to a question from RFA on Thursday about Postol's analysis that North Korea's Hwasong-18 is identical to Russia's SS-27 Mod 2 intercontinental ballistic missile, saying only that it does not comment on intelligence matters. Editor Park Jung-woo, Web Team Kim Sang-il