Page 35 - 2018 Defense White Paper

nuclear weapons seems to have reached a considerable level.
Chapter 1
After beginning ballistic missile developments in the 1970s, North Korea produced and fielded
Scud-B and Scud-C with ranges of 300km and 500km, respectively, in the mid-1980s. In the late
1990s, North Korea fielded the Nodong missile with a range of 1,300km and, later, the Scud-

ER, which are scud missiles with extended range. In 2007, North Korea fielded the Musudan
missile with a minimum range of 3,000km without a test launch. Through these successive
additions to its missile inventory, North Korea has gained direct strike capabilities against the

ROK and the surrounding countries of the Korean Peninsula. The types of ballistic missiles
currently in North Korea’s inventory or under development are shown in [Chart 1-6].
Starting in 2012, North Korea has conducted test launches of missiles that have been deployed

or are under development. In 2017, Hwasong-12, Hwasong-14, and Hwasong-15, as well as
Pukguksong-2, were tested. Pyongyang fired Hwasong-12 missiles into the North Pacific Ocean
in May, August, and September, and Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15, which are capable of posing
threats to the U.S. mainland, in July and November, respectively. However further confirmation

is required to verify whether North Korea has acquired the atmosphere reentry technology, as
it is yet to conduct tests for actual range of the missiles. The ranges of North Korea’s ballistic

missiles are shown in [Chart 1-7].

Section 3 North Korean Situation and Military Threats 33