North Korea shows off Missile Capable of Reaching US
Kim Jong Un has put North Korea’s long-range missile program on permanent display. The newly opened Defense Revolution Museum includes the Hwasong-20, an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) able to hit the United States. Kim attended the opening on Sunday, joined by his daughter, Ju Ae, and wife, Ri Sol Ju. Photographs released on Tuesday show weapons built under his rule, from drones to the ICBM. The images emerged one day after US President Donald Trump said he might meet Kim. Trump is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, in mid-November.
North Korea has also confirmed a fresh missile launch carried out on Monday. South Korea’s military detected multiple ballistic missiles fired toward waters off the east coast. Pyongyang described the weapon as a tactical ballistic missile. It said the test confirmed a successful technical upgrade to an unnamed key component. However, it gave no further details about the component or the missile itself. The launch was the fourth by Pyongyang in a month, following Seoul’s recent hypersonic missile test.
Inside the Defense Revolution Museum: Hwasong-20 Takes Centre Stage
The Defense Revolution Museum displays weaponry developed during Kim’s time in power. Photographs show equipment ranging from small drones to the Hwasong-20 ICBMs(intercontinental ballistic missile). In this museum, a display in front of the Hwasong-20 launcher appears to show a multiple-warhead design. Beside it, a world map marks the ICBM ranges that reach well beyond the US mainland. Those ranges extend to the Middle East, Australia and South America.
Shin Jong-woo, secretary-general of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, views the exhibit as a form of political messaging. He believes it is intended to highlight Kim’s advances in defense science development program and strengthen North Korea’s strategic position ahead of a possible summit with the United States. Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University, sees a longer-term goal. Temporary weapons exhibitions have now given way to a permanent museum. A permanent museum, he argues, presents the arms buildup as a finished and lasting symbols of the regime’s military accomplishments.
From Parade Debut to Summit Talk: The Hwasong-20 Meets Diplomacy
The Hwasong-20 is not new to the public eye. It was unveiled at a military parade in October 2025, marking the Workers’ Party’s 80th founding anniversary. Pyongyang called it their most powerful nuclear strategic weapon in its arsenal. The solid fuel makes missiles easier to move, harder to detect and quicker to launch. At that parade, North Korean leader Kim declared that sovereignty can be secured only through military might. Pyongyang is pressing ahead with its weapons program in full public view. The museum, the Hwasong-20 display and Monday’s launch all arrived have within days of each other. For the region, the frequent launches suggest weapons testing will continue alongside any diplomacy.
Ultimately, the Defense Revolution Museum shows how Pyongyang is turning its missile program into a lasting national symbol. The Hwasong-20 ICBM display, with ranges beyond the US mainland, appears to send a message that Washington is within reach. That message arrives just as Trump has raised the possibility of a meeting with Kim. Whether or not talks happen, Pyongyang appears set to negotiate from a position of displayed strength. Analysts view that mix of military showcase and diplomatic opening as a possible bargaining tool.
Web resources on Kim Showcases Missile Capable of Reaching US
1. Reuters : North Korea’s Kim showcases missile capable of reaching US as Trump signals possible meeting.
2. South China Morning Post : North Korea unveils ‘most powerful nuclear strategic weapon’ capable of reaching all of US.
3. Straits Times : North Korea’s Kim showcases missile capable of reaching US as Trump signals possible meeting.
4. Sri Lanka Guardian : Trump Signals Possible Meeting with Kim as North Korea Showcases Nuclear Missile Arsenal.