SEOUL -- North Korea appears to be racing to increase the nuclear payload capability of a multiwarhead intercontinental ballistic missile, as indicated by its launch on Friday of an ICBM that a South Korean official said was thought to be a new Hwasong-17.
Friday's launch follows one that failed on Nov. 3, which was also a Hwasong-17 ICBM, according to a South Korean military official. The missile has an estimated range of more than 15,000 kilometers, which means it could reach any point in the United States, and it has the capability to carry two to three warheads.
With the goal of possessing nuclear capability that can counter the United States, North Korea is believed to be accelerating the development of a multiwarhead ICBM.
