Key facts
- North Korea displayed an ICBM capable of reaching the US at a new defence museum.
- The Hwasong-20 ICBM display suggested a multiple warhead design and extended range.
- US President Donald Trump said he might meet Kim Jong Un during a planned Asia trip.
- North Korea test-fired a tactical ballistic missile on Monday to confirm a technical upgrade.
- South Korea confirmed multiple ballistic missile launches by North Korea on Monday.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a newly opened Defence Revolution Museum, showcasing weaponry including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) reportedly capable of reaching the United States, according to state media KCNA on Tuesday. The visit occurred shortly after US President Donald Trump indicated he might meet Kim during a planned trip to Asia in mid-November, where he is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China.
The museum displayed a range of weapons developed under Kim's leadership, from drones to the Hwasong-20 ICBM. Photographs showed a display suggesting the Hwasong-20 has a multiple warhead design and a world map illustrating ranges that extend beyond the US mainland to the Middle East, Australia, and South America, according to Shin Jong-woo, Secretary General of the Korea Defence and Security Forum. Shin stated the exhibition appeared intended to highlight achievements of Kim's defense science program and serve as propaganda ahead of a potential summit.
Analysts noted the museum's permanent nature institutionalizes Kim's military accomplishments, portraying North Korea's nuclear and missile buildup as an enduring legacy, said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University's Institute for Far Eastern Studies.
Separately, North Korea announced it had test-fired a tactical ballistic missile on Monday to confirm the successful technical upgrade of a key component, which KCNA said would improve all offensive weapons systems. South Korea's military confirmed the launch of multiple ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast, marking Pyongyang's fourth such launch in a month.