Korea

The planned arrival of amphibious support ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) in the Pacific Ocean introduces a new capability for amphibious support ships carrying the F-35B fifth-generation stealth fighters without relying on large aircraft carriers. Apart from the American LHD, both Japan and South Korea are interested in the new potential mating STOVL fighters with flat-deck helicopter carriers. Both countries already acquired the conventional take-off variant (F-35A), and consider operating the Short Take-Off / Vertical Landing (STOVL) B version from ships.

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency and Hanwha Land Systems yesterday signed a contract for the procurement of 24 K9 Thunder self-propelled 155mm L/52 Artillery Systems. The total worth of the arms package is about 1.8 Billion NOK. (US$287 million). Pre-series of the artillery system will be delivered for initial trials in 2019 with the remaining batches delivered through 2020, forming a combat-ready artillery battalion in 2021.

Pyongyang confirmed today it successfully tested a hydrogen-bomb device, claiming it is now fully independent in producing such nuclear devices, from raw materials to the assembly in missiles. Prior to the recent test the official news agency KCNA released undated photos showing Kim Jong Un inspecting a peanut shaped object of the instrument claimed to be a new, miniaturized thermonuclear device designed for use in Hwasong-14 ICBMs. Photo: KCNA.

On July 28, North Korea launched a ballistic missile that reportedly flew for 45 minutes, reaching a peak altitude of 3,000 km, and a slightly longer range than the previous test. North Korea seems to have made a logical step forward, as it tries to perfect the technologies to build and field an operationally-viable ICBM that can threaten the mainland United States.

North Korea tested today the largest ballistic missile developed by the rough country. The missile believed to be the KN 14 (Hwasong 14). With a demonstrated range of 7,000 km, the missile covers the entire Asian continent and can reach any target from Hawaii to Australia, India and Scandinavia

North Korea asserted Tuesday that it has developed a means to strike moving targets at sea with precision. The capability was validated during a recent missile test conducted yesterday (Monday) when Pyongyang tested an upgraded Hwasong-7 (Scud-ER) type missile equipped with trajectory correction means transforming the ballistic missile into 'precision-guided' one.

North Korea’s latest successful missile test represents a new level of performance never before seen from a North Korean missile. Theoretically, such a missile would enable North Korean to strike targets as far as 4,500 km away - in the middle of the Pacific ocean (for example, Hawaii).

South Korea has successfully test-launched a new version of Hyunmoo-2B ballistic missile with its flight range extended from 500 to 800 km. This range enables the missile to reach anywhere in North Korea, defense sources in South Korea said.

North Korea appears to have employed technologies used in submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) to develop a new type of intermediate-range ballistic missile tested Saturday. The SLBM launched in August carried the name Pukguksong-1, ("North Star"); the official announcement about the missile test called the new missile Pukguksong-2.

Panther FE hybrid-powered vertical take off and landing drone developed by IAI and the South Korean company Hankuk Carbon made its maiden flight in Korea recently. The FE-Panther uses three electrical motors for vertical lift and a diesel engine for horizontal flight.

The U.S. Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin Aeronautics a contract worth over US$1.2 Billion for the upgrading of 134 South Korean F-16 fighters. The contract for the ROKAF upgrade is a foreign military sales contract issued by the U.S. Air Force.

North Korea has moved the Rodong Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) launchers closer to the South in an attempt to circumvent the missile defense shield soon to be established by the U.S. THAAD missiles.

After approving the deployment of a THAAD battery in South Korea, Seoul insists the system will operate independently of the U.S. regional missile defense, which consists of additional land and sea-based command elements, radars and interceptors.

North Korea launched two Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missiles from its east coast early Wednesday morning, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. Both launches were successful. The first test terminated after a short flight but in the second attempt, the missile ascended in a steep trajectory that managed to reach apogee at an altitude of 1,000 km and impacted at sea, about 400 km from its launch point. Both flights represent a significant improvement over previous attempts, where the missile failed seconds after liftoff.