Kim Jong Un Attends Second Hwasong-14 Missile Test
Kim Jong Un observes the missile test launch. Also in attendance, tagged, are Jo Yong Won [a], Jang Chang Ha [b], Kim Jong Sik [c], Ri Pyong Chol [d] and a figure who appears to be Gen. Kim Rak Gyom [e] (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
Kim Jong Un observed and guided the second test of the Hwasong-14 ballistic missile in Chagang Province on the evening [NKST] of July 29 (Friday). Also in attendance were Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Munitions Industry Department Senior Deputy Director Ri Pyong Chol [Ri Pyo’ng-ch’o’l], Korean People’s Army [KPA] Strategic Force Commander Gen. Kim Rak Gyom [Kim Rak-kyo’m], WPK Munitions Industry Department Deputy Director Kim Jong Sik [Kim Cho’ng-sik], Second Academy of Natural Sciences President and WPK Munitions Industry Department Deputy Director Jang Chang Ha [Chang Chang-ha], KPA Strategic Force Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Jon Il Ho [Cho’n Il-ho], WPK Munitions Industry Department Deputy Director and nuclear weapons expert Yu Jin [Yu Chin] and WPK Organization Guidance Department Deputy Director Jo Yong Won [Cho Yo’ng-wo’n]. Jong Un authorized the test on July 27 (Thursday).
Kim Jong Un signs documents ordering the second test launch of the Hwasong-14 ballistic missile in Pyonygang on July 27, 2017 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
Kim Jong Un’s personally written instructions (indicating he accepts personal responsibility for the policy’s execution) on a three-striped document ordering the Hwasong-14 missile test (Photo: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).
The Hwasong-14 test occurred as part of the DPRK “advancing along the new line of the great Workers’ Party of Korea on simultaneously building up the economy and defense” and will “develop much more of the most powerful strategic weapons, Chuch’e weapons which will display the invincible might of Chuch’e Korea and its inexhaustible potentiality of development to the world until the US and its vassal forces trying to undermine the DPRK’s dignity and its right to existence are eliminated, and will achieve the final victory in the showdown with the imperialists and the US without fail.”
Kim Jong Un confers with WPK Munitions Industry Department Senior Deputy Director Ri Pyong Chol (left) prior to the missile test. Ri is the grandfather of Jong Un’s wife, Ri Sol Ju (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
Kim Jong Un reacts to the Hwasong-14 test launch (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).
Jong Un, described as “always bringing about ceaseless miracles and victories which baffle the imagination of the world’s people with his unique military wisdom, great guts and stratagems,” issued “the militant task for the rocket research field to conduct another test fire simulating maximum range of the Hwasong-14 at an early date to prove once again the reliability of the whole rocket system.” According to state media reporting the “scientists and technicians in the field of defense industry, loyalists of the Party who share the intention, breath and step with the leader with the absolute trust in it, rounded off earlier than scheduled preparation for the second test-fire of Hwasong-14 through a decisive campaign with confidence and will to fully demonstrate the powerful might of the strategic nuclear force of the WPK.”
Views of the Hwasong-14’s second test and Kim Jong Un observing it with senior officials (Photos: KCNA/Rodong Sinmun).
Views of the Hwasong-14 test. Kim Jong Un watches the missile test while Second Academy of Natural Sciences President Jang Chang Ha takes notes (bottom right) (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).
As the Hwasong-14 test was being prepped, Jong Un was briefed “about the preparations and gave detailed instructions every day.” The second Hwasong-14 test was “aimed to finally confirm the overall technological specifications of the weapon system Hwasong-14 capable of carrying a large-sized heavy nuclear warhead, including its maximum range.” The Hwasong-14 “loaded with the tremendous might of heroic Korea roared into space, leaving a column of flames behind.”
Views of the Hwasong-14 test launch (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).
The missile blasted off reached “an altitude of 3,724.9 km [12, 220, 800 feet] and flew 998 km [620 miles] for 47 minutes and 12 second before landing in the target waters in the open sea.” The test “was carried out at the maximum angle launch system mocking the maximum range, and had no adverse effect on the security of the neighboring countries.” The test “also reconfirmed the specific features of the rocket system such as the rocket’s separation from its launching pad, stage separations, structural system, etc., which were confirmed at the first test-fire, and confirmed the performing features of motors whose number has increased to guarantee the maximum range in the active-flight stage as well as the accuracy and reliability of the improved guidance and stability system.”
Views of the Hwasong-14 test launch (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).
According to state media, the “altitude control features of the heavy warhead in the middle flight stage after the separation of the warhead were confirmed, and the accurate guidance and attitude control of the warhead was ensured at the atmosphere reentry at the angle launch system harsher than the actual maximum range flying conditions. The structural stability of the warhead was maintained and the warhead explosion control device showed normal operation even at thousands of degrees of Centigrade.”
Kim Jong Un expressed “great satisfaction over the results of the test-fire of ICBM which proved to be a perfect and big success without an inch of error” and “highly praised the scientists, technicians and officials in the field of rocket research and gave them special thanks in the name of the Party Central Committee.” Jong Un remarked that the “test-fire reconfirmed the reliability of the ICBM system, demonstrated the capability of making surprise launches of the ICBM in any region and place at any time and clearly proved that the whole US mainland is in the firing range of DPRK missiles.”
Kim Jong Un greets and celebrates the Hwasong-14 test with personnel of the Second Academy of Natural Sciences, the Second Economic Committee and the KPA Strategic Force (Photos: Rodong Sinmun/KCNA).
Jong Un said that the “maximum range simulation test-fire of ICBM conducted by the DPRK today is meant to send a grave warning to the US which is making senseless remarks, being lost to reason…this would make the policymakers of the US properly understand that the US, an aggression-minded state, would not go scot-free if dares to provoke the DPRK. The US trumpeting about war and extreme sanctions and its threat against the DPRK only embolden the latter and offers a better excuse for its access to nukes.” Jong Un stressed in his comments, “To the Korean people who experienced disastrous disturbances of war on this land the by the beast-like US imperialists, the powerful war deterrence for defending the state is an inevitable strategic option and it is a precious strategic asset that can not be bartered for anything.”
Commemorative photograph taken following the missile test of Kim Jong Un with senior munitions industry officials and test personnel (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
He emphasized that “if the Yankees brandish the nuclear stick on this land again despite our repeated warnings, we will clearly teach them manners with the nuclear strategic force which we had shown them one by by one.” Jong Un warmly “congratulated the scientists and technicians in the field of rocket research who demonstrated once again the independent prestige and dignity of the Chuch’e nuclear power, the world-level rocket power by succeeding in the second test-launch of the ICBM Hwasong-14.” Jong Un then posed for a commemorative photograph with Hwasong-14 test personnel.
