North Korea has conducted a series of ballistic missile tests, including the launch of the Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on October 31, 2024, raising tensions across East Asia and drawing global concern. The Hwasong-19 is a solid-fuel ICBM capable of carrying multiple warheads, which could enhance North Korea’s second-strike capability and pose challenges to missile defence systems.
The missile tests come amid North Korea’s deepening military cooperation with Russia, with reports indicating the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russian operations in Ukraine. The timing of the October 31 launch, just days before U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to South Korea, is being viewed as a strategic signal from Pyongyang.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed concern over North Korea’s advancing nuclear capabilities, warning that these developments could potentially threaten the U.S. mainland. Despite these tensions, Pyongyang has indicated that the results of the U.S. presidential election will not influence its approach to engagement with the United States.
International analysts warn that North Korea’s solid-fuel ICBMs, along with its evolving missile technology, complicate regional security dynamics and undermine efforts to achieve denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula. The missile tests underscore the persistent challenges faced by global powers in curbing North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and maintaining stability in East Asia.