North Korea may have more mobile launchers for its ICBMs than previously known | NK News
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September 20, 2026Sep 20, 2026

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North Korea may have more mobile launchers for its ICBMs than previously known

Expert cautions Pyongyang may be misleading observers about its fleet of transporter erector launchers, however

Imagery from North Korea’s April 25 military parade suggests the country has more vehicles capable of transporting intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) than previously thought, though experts caution it is still possible Pyongyang is attempting to mislead observers. 

According to footage of the parade aired by Korean Central Television (KCTV), North Korea trotted out four transporter erector launchers (TEL) on Monday, with each carrying a Hwasong-17, Pyongyang’s largest ICBM to date. 

But a numbering scheme used by Pyongyang to label each TEL reveals the country has potentially more of the 11-axle vehicles than previously known — or at least Pyongyang wants