Hwasong-20: The Missile That Has the World On Edge

By: Minsung Kim

On October 10th, 2025, the Workers’ Party of Korea celebrated its 80th anniversary with a typical show the world comes to expect every year. As floodlights stretched over Kim Il Sung Square, tens of thousands of soldiers marched in formation so perfect it felt unreal. Typically, these parades are dismissed by the outside world as propaganda, a theatre that is carefully choreographed with very little actual significance. 

But this time was different. As the world watched, a massive 11-axle transporter crept forward followed by flashes of cameras and roars from crowds. North Korea unveiled its newest intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-20.

Unlike North Korea’s older liquid fueled rockets, this new ICBM is reportedly powered by solid fuel technology allowing faster launch times, less warning time, and thus being far more catastrophic. Additionally, Pyongyang claims the Hwasong-20 carries MIRV warheads — multiple warheads being able to target different cities with a single launch. To put it simply, the press of a button threatens Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo all at once. The possibility of such a weapon alone is enough to shift the balance of power setting a new tone along the Korean Peninsula. 

For decades, North Korea has gained influence in negotiations through its weapons program. Kim Jong Un’s military arsenal provided the regime with a bargaining chip that traditional diplomacy could not. Whether it be on the topic of sanctions, security guarantees, or even the hope of reunification, the DPRK pushes their ideology through military pressure. On the other hand, South Korea has tried to enforce their own path. Current President Lee Jae-Myung and his government have emphasized their vision for “peace without conflict”. But with both sides of the border having fundamentally opposing views for the shared goal of reunification, North Korea’s latest move was a declaration of their intent.

To date, the Hwasong-20 has not been flight-tested, nor have any signs of the ICBM actually being operational proven. Experts suggest it may be a “parade missile”, a prop meant to intimidate rather than bring war. However in international politics, perception can be just as powerful as reality. If the rest of the world believes it to work, they will act accordingly. 

Kim Jong Un has made it clear that North Korea will not be sidelined. The unveiling of the Hwasong-20 is a part of his ongoing ambition to get North Korea a seat at the table, a voice that will be heard. While South Korea continues to extend offers of dialogue, those gestures run into the same brick wall since the Sunshine Policy of 1998. A foreign policy seeking reunification through aid and cooperation.

At some point, the world asks the questions: What’s the point of offering peace when the opposition has repeatedly shown no such interest?

The Hwasong-20 is beyond a catastrophic missile that can flatten cities. It provides an insight to North Korea’s exponentially growing capabilities year after year.

References:

Bryanbetts. (2025, October 12). What to make of the Hwasong-20, North Korea’s puzzling new nuclear missile | NK PRO. NK PRO. https://www.nknews.org/pro/what-to-make-of-the-hwasong-20-north-koreas-puzzling-new-nuclear-missile

Hyun-Bin, K. (2025, October 12). N. Korea unveils new Hwasong-20 ICBM, signaling multi-warhead ambitions. The Korea Times. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/northkorea/20251012/n-korea-unveils-new-hwasong-20-icbm-signaling-multi-warhead-ambitions

North Korea exhibits new long-range missile at a military parade celebrating Kim Jong Un. (2025, October 12). CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-new-long-range-missile-military-parade-celebrates-kim-jong-un

The sunshine policy of South Korea. (n.d.). http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2017/ph241/min2/