Kim added that the Hwasong-18 would rapidly advance North Korea’s nuclear response posture and further support an aggressive military strategy of maintaining “frontal confrontation” against its rivals. North Korea has tested various ICBMs since 2017 that demonstrated the potential range to reach the U.S. mainland, but its three previous systems use liquid fuel that must be added relatively close to the launch and they cannot remain fueled for prolonged periods. An ICBM with built-in solid propellants would be easier to move and hide and fired quickly, reducing the opportunities for opponents to detect and counter the launch. South Korea’s Defense Ministry in a statement described the Hwasong-18's flight as a “mid-phase test” and said North Korea would need more time and effort to complete the system.
