North Korea’s Hwasong Missiles Put America in Range

South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung has issued a stark warning that North Korea is on the verge of deploying an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capable of striking the United States mainland with a nuclear warhead. Speaking on Thursday, September 25, 2025, Lee emphasized that while Pyongyang has not yet proven its warheads can withstand re-entry at hypersonic speeds, the pace of its missile development poses a fast-growing threat to Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo.

The Hwasong-19, a solid-fuel three-stage ICBM first tested on October 31, 2024. Unlike earlier liquid-fuel models, this missile can be launched rapidly from mobile transporter-erector launchers, making it harder for adversaries to detect and preempt. With an estimated range of 12,000 kilometers, the missile could target the entire U.S. mainland if paired with a hardened and miniaturized nuclear payload.

North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, however, go beyond just one missile. The older but massive Hwasong-17, powered by liquid fuel, is designed to carry heavy or even multiple warheads. Though it requires longer preparation time, its range of 12,000 to 15,000 kilometers also covers all major American cities. Analysts believe it could serve as a platform for MIRV technology—the ability to launch multiple warheads on a single missile—if Pyongyang continues to advance.

There is also speculation about a future missile, informally dubbed the Hwasong-20, which may be intended for larger payloads and penetration aids like decoys to overwhelm U.S. missile defenses. Although such technology has not been tested in confirmed trials, even limited use of decoys could significantly reduce the effectiveness of American interceptors.

Alongside its ICBM program, North Korea has been working on a second-strike capability. The Pukguksong series of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs)—notably the Pukguksong-3, -4, and -5—have ranges of 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers, threatening Japan, Guam, and U.S. Pacific bases. Though North Korea’s submarine fleet is outdated compared to major navies, even a handful of SLBM-capable submarines could allow Pyongyang to launch from unpredictable positions, increasing its survivability.

The regime also maintains a strong regional nuclear strike force. The Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missile can reach Guam, while the KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles provide the option to target South Korea and Japan with tactical nuclear warheads. These weapons, with yields of 10 to 50 kilotons, blur the line between conventional and nuclear warfare, raising the risk of rapid escalation in any conflict.

All of these missile systems are backed by a growing stockpile of fissile material. Intelligence reports suggest that North Korea operates multiple uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing sites, enabling it to steadily expand its warhead inventory, which already numbers in the dozens. Experts estimate the arsenal ranges from smaller tactical devices of 10–20 kilotons to larger strategic warheads of 100–250 kilotons, enough to devastate major cities.

Despite these advances, Pyongyang still faces one major technical challenge: ensuring that its warheads can survive atmospheric re-entry at intercontinental ranges. A warhead must endure extreme heat and stress while maintaining stability. North Korean state media has showcased new re-entry vehicle designs, but outside analysts say verifiable proof of consistent success remains absent.

If North Korea overcomes this final obstacle, the strategic balance in East Asia—and beyond—will shift dramatically. For the United States, a survivable North Korean ICBM force would challenge deterrence strategies and require heavier investment in missile defense systems like Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) and Aegis interceptors. For South Korea and Japan, the danger is more immediate, as short- and medium-range nuclear missiles could strike with little warning. For the world at large, the risk extends to proliferation, as a more advanced Pyongyang might export nuclear materials or missile technology to other countries or non-state actors.

President Lee’s warning underscores that North Korea’s nuclear program has entered a decisive stage. The country already has the capability to devastate its neighbors and is on the brink of threatening the U.S. homeland. Unless checked through diplomacy, deterrence, or technological countermeasures, Pyongyang’s nuclear progress represents one of the most serious challenges to global security in the 21st century.