Behind North Korea’s New Hwasong-20 ICBM: Propaganda or Real Power?

News Summary

North Korea revealed its new Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile during a major military parade on October 10, signaling its progress toward developing a multiple warhead ICBM capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

The parade, marking the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea, was attended by Kim Jong Un and high-level officials from China, Russia, Vietnam, and other nations.

Commentary

North Korea’s nuclear strategy is clear: it seeks to showcase—or even exaggerate—its nuclear capabilities to force the United States and the international community to acknowledge its nuclear status.

With support from its authoritarian allies and even the current South Korean government, the Kim regime aims to intimidate the U.S. and its allies, leveraging its carefully crafted rhetoric to gain an upper hand in future negotiations.

Due to North Korea’s reclusive nature, access to reliable information about its nuclear program is extremely limited. Most available data originates from North Korean state media, meaning the world sees only what the regime wants to reveal. Every image, parade, and statement surrounding its nuclear arsenal is part of a deliberate strategy to project the illusion of a technologically advanced nuclear power.