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So, this hunch was right. Images just out. (Next tweet.) #NorthKorea
A new North Korean ballistic missile! Songun ATACMS? 
Here’s the US MGM-140 ATACMS for comparison. I was joking about this when we first saw the KN23 (Iskander-M lookalike). Apparently North Korea built both an Iskander and an ATACMS?!
A few more images from the latest launch. This is the 3rd new missile type since 2017 (after KN23 and the new “large-caliber” MLRS). 4th new tracked launcher type. Possible KN25 candidate.
We’re getting a very good picture of what #NorthKorea was upto amid the photo-ops to 2018: building new, advanced solid-fuel boosters and TELs.
Good observation by @wslafoy. (He’s talking about the black-and-white nosecone paint job.)
@wslafoy One more picture. Nice angle for mensuration.
What brings both the KN23 and this new missile together, IMO, is that the South Korean Army operates both the Hyunmoo (ROK Iskander lookalike) and export versions of the US ATACMs. Now North Korea has its own analogs to those systems.
@wslafoy Screwed up the threading, but here.
#NorthKorea is describing this as a new achievement: KCNA: scientists “...perfected another new weapon system the orientation of research and development of which was indicated by the Party recently”
Kim Jong Un “said that the new weapon which was developed to suit the terrain condition of our country and as required by the Juche-oriented war methods has advantageous tactical character different to the existing weapon systems” (KCNA)
“After seeing the test-fire result of the new weapon transmitted to the display at the observation post, the Supreme Leader expressed great satisfaction, being very pleased that another new weapon intended by the Party came into being.” (KCNA)
“Noting that our scientists in the field of national defence science and workers in the field of munitions industry do everything when the Party gives an orientation only, he said that they correctly see through the strategic idea and intention of the Party Central Committee”
The flight profile of this new missile was so similar to the KN23 that both US officials and ROK JCS assessed it as being similar to that system. That’s very interesting.
I wonder if two competing solid propellant design bureaus were tasked to come up with a low-flying quasi-ballistic missile and one set down the Iskander-M path and the other ATACMS. The diversity of systems we’re seeing in North Korea is seriously puzzling.
There’s also the question of why a KN23 mockup was paraded in February 2018 and not this: was it not ready? Was it undergoing development? Or some other reason? (Perhaps no available TELs back then.)
The ROK-US exercises are set to continue for more than another week so we should see further testing of this missile.
Oh good. They released one of the useful images in high resolution this time. #NorthKorea
@ArmsControlWonk @ferencdv @GeorgeWHerbert @Joshua_Pollack @mhanham @DaveSchmerler @RocketSchiller @EllemanIISS @inbarspace Missile detail. Serial number: ㅈ108080002.
@ArmsControlWonk @ferencdv @GeorgeWHerbert @Joshua_Pollack @mhanham @DaveSchmerler @RocketSchiller @EllemanIISS @inbarspace The high resolution makes the cable raceway break more apparent. Seems to run up a good bit of the airframe, like on the KN23.
@wslafoy More pictures, via newly released KCTV video. We see the TEL with the canisters flat. Also, Kim Jong Un appears to be enjoying an ice coffee (?) for his early morning launch. #NorthKorea
