Background: Why North Korea Builds Missiles

North Korea views its ballistic missile program as the ultimate guarantee of the Kim regime’s survival. Pyongyang argues that a credible nuclear and missile deterrent prevents any U.S.-led military intervention — a lesson it draws from the fates of Iraq and Libya. Consequently, missile development has remained a top national priority since the 1980s.

Additionally, missile tests serve as diplomatic signals. Pyongyang typically launches missiles in response to U.S.–South Korea joint military exercises, to mark domestic political anniversaries, or to demand attention before potential negotiations. Therefore, understanding the timing of launches is as important as understanding the technical capabilities they demonstrate.

The Strategic Logic of Escalation

Under Kim Jong Un, who assumed power in 2011, North Korea dramatically accelerated its missile and nuclear programs. By contrast, previous administrations had pursued a more ambiguous strategy. Kim declared North Korea a nuclear state in its constitution in 2012, signalling that denuclearization was off the table.

Moreover, North Korea’s military doctrine, as outlined in state media and academic analyses from 38 North, explicitly links nuclear weapons to conventional deterrence. In particular, Pyongyang has stated it would use tactical nuclear weapons to halt any conventional invasion.

Timeline of Key North Korea Ballistic Missile Launches (2022–2026)

The pace of North Korea ballistic missile launches has been unprecedented in recent years. However, 2025 saw a noticeable slowdown in raw numbers, even as the sophistication of individual tests increased significantly.

2022: Record-Breaking Year

In 2022, North Korea conducted 69 ballistic missile launches — the highest annual figure since tracking began in 1984, according to Statista. Notably, this included tests of Hwasong-17 ICBMs capable of reaching the continental United States. Furthermore, North Korea tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) variant and multiple short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs).

2024–2025: Quality Over Quantity

By 2024, North Korea conducted 11 confirmed launch events involving at least 22 missiles, according to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As a result, analysts noted a strategic shift: fewer launches, but more technologically advanced systems. In particular, the October 2024 ICBM test attracted global condemnation.

In 2025, the number dropped further to approximately 15 launches (estimate), as reported by 38 North. However, North Korea unveiled a new ballistic missile submarine and introduced a nuclear-capable air force role, representing a qualitative leap in deterrence posture.

Selected Notable Launches (2024–2026)

Sources: Wikipedia — List of North Korean missile tests; DW, March 2026

Types of North Korean Ballistic Missiles

North Korea operates one of the most diverse ballistic missile arsenals in the world. According to Wikipedia’s analysis of DPRK weapons of mass destruction, the Korean People’s Army Strategic Force operates over 363 ballistic missiles across four main categories.

Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs)

SRBMs form the largest segment of North Korea’s arsenal, with approximately 319 in service. The Hwasong-11 series (also called KN-23, KN-24, KN-25) are solid-fuelled and manoeuvrable. Moreover, the KN-25 — a 600mm multiple rocket launcher — was demonstrated again in March 2026, reportedly striking targets 364 km away with claimed precision.

Intermediate and Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs/MRBMs)

North Korea operates approximately 27 intermediate/medium-range systems, including the Hwasong-12 and the newer Hwasong-16B. Notably, the Hwasong-16B was fitted with a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) — a manoeuvrable warhead designed to defeat missile defence systems — and tested in January 2025, as confirmed by the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)

North Korea fields approximately 17 ICBMs, primarily the Hwasong-17 and Hwasong-18. The Hwasong-17, first tested in 2022, is a liquid-fuelled monster with a theoretical range exceeding 15,000 km — sufficient to reach any point in the United States. By contrast, the Hwasong-18 is a solid-fuelled ICBM that can be launched more rapidly and is harder to detect before launch.

Source: Wikipedia — North Korea and weapons of mass destruction. All range figures are estimates.

North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons Program

North Korea is the tenth country to openly test nuclear weapons, according to Wikipedia. As of 2025, experts estimate its assembled warhead stockpile at approximately 50 nuclear warheads, with sufficient fissile material for 70–90 weapons, as reported by the Arms Control Association.

From Fission to Thermonuclear

North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006 and its most recent in September 2017. Pyongyang claimed its 2017 test involved a thermonuclear (hydrogen) bomb — a claim partially corroborated by seismic data showing a far larger yield than previous tests. Consequently, North Korea became the first state since Pakistan in 1998 to join the nuclear club.

Furthermore, North Korea has invested heavily in miniaturising warheads for ballistic missile delivery. In particular, analysts assess that the DPRK has likely developed warheads small enough to fit on ICBMs, though the precise status of reentry vehicle technology remains uncertain.

UN Sanctions and International Responses

The UN Security Council has adopted nine major sanctions resolutions against North Korea, spanning from 2006 to 2017, according to the Arms Control Association. These resolutions target North Korea’s weapons programs through trade restrictions, asset freezes, and travel bans.

Why Sanctions Have Stalled

In May 2022, China and Russia vetoed a U.S.-backed resolution that would have imposed new sanctions following a series of ICBM launches. As a result, no new UN Security Council resolution on North Korea has passed since December 2017, according to AP News. Consequently, the existing sanctions framework has limited enforcement.

However, individual nations continue to impose unilateral sanctions. The United States, European Union, South Korea, Japan, and others have added entities, individuals, and vessels to their own sanctions lists. Moreover, the UN Panel of Experts documented systematic North Korean evasion through ship-to-ship transfers of oil and coal.

International Condemnation in 2024

Following the October 2024 ICBM test, 10 of 15 UN Security Council members approved a U.S.-led statement condemning the launch, according to AP News. Nevertheless, without a binding resolution — blocked by Chinese and Russian vetoes — such statements carry no enforcement mechanism.

Regional and Global Security Impact

North Korea ballistic missile launches have reshaped the security landscape across Northeast Asia. South Korea, Japan, and the United States have all significantly upgraded their missile defence infrastructure, intelligence-sharing, and joint military exercises in response.

Image: North Korean ballistic missile test, May 2025. Credit: Rodong Sinmun via Korea Risk Group.

South Korea and Japan

South Korea has accelerated development of its Korea Missile Defense (KAMD) system and acquired Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries from the United States. Additionally, Japan has expanded its Aegis-equipped destroyer fleet and introduced a counter-strike capability under its revised National Security Strategy of December 2022. Furthermore, Tokyo has invested in extending the range of its existing ballistic missile stocks.

U.S. Extended Deterrence

The United States maintains approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea and has rotated strategic assets — including nuclear-capable B-52 bombers and nuclear-powered submarines — to the Korean Peninsula as deterrence signals. Moreover, the Washington Declaration of 2023 established a new Nuclear Consultative Group between the U.S. and South Korea.

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