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US Forces Korea Commander Warns of Advancing North Korean Missile and Nuclear Programs.
On April 10, 2025, during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, General Xavier T. Brunson, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), presented a concerning overview of North Korea’s military developments. According to Brunson, Pyongyang is actively advancing its ballistic and nuclear capabilities while simultaneously adopting an increasingly isolated international stance. His testimony comes amid intensified military activity from North Korea and a shift in its strategic doctrine, all within an increasingly tense regional environment.
General Brunson reported that in 2024 alone, North Korea conducted no fewer than 47 ballistic missile launches (Picture source: KCNA)
General Brunson reported that in 2024 alone, North Korea conducted no fewer than 47 ballistic missile launches. He noted that Pyongyang is also focusing on the development of long-range cruise missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles designed to evade advanced missile defense systems. For 2025, U.S. intelligence expects North Korea to continue developing critical technologies such as multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), aiming to enhance the credibility of its strategic deterrent.
North Korea is also expanding its nuclear weapons program. The Korean People’s Army, with approximately 1.3 million troops, is undergoing a modernization process supported by technological transfers and military equipment from Russia. General Brunson confirmed that munitions and North Korean personnel have been deployed in support of Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine, demonstrating the regime’s ability to project military support abroad while maintaining domestic defense priorities.
The cyber domain constitutes another significant dimension of North Korea’s threat posture. According to Brunson, the country has conducted sophisticated cyberattacks, including the theft of $1.5 billion in cryptocurrency. These operations underscore Pyongyang’s growing cyber capabilities and serve as a means to bypass international sanctions.
Ideologically, North Korea appears to be shifting away from its historical focus on Korean reunification toward a doctrine centered on exclusive sovereignty. This change is reflected in a hardening of the southern border, the rejection of inter-Korean dialogue, and the demolition of monuments associated with reunification. Brunson suggested that most North Koreans remain unaware of these developments due to the regime’s tight control over information and communication channels.
In this context, the USFK commander warned against any reduction of U.S. military presence on the Korean Peninsula. Such a move, he argued, would not only undermine deterrence against Pyongyang but also weaken the United States’ ability to impose strategic costs on Russia in the East Sea and on China in the Yellow Sea. He emphasized the importance of maintaining sufficient capabilities to prevent, contain, and, if necessary, prevail in a conflict.
Reports from The Military Balance 2024 and 2025 support the assessment of North Korea’s expanding arsenal. In November 2024, Pyongyang tested a new variant of the solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-18, adding to its existing inventory of Hwasong-14, -15, -17 mod 1, and -19. These ICBMs are believed to be capable of exceeding ranges of 12,000 km, potentially threatening the continental United States.
At the intermediate range, North Korea is reported to possess over ten Hwasong-12 and Hwasong-16 missiles. Medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) such as the Nodong (Hwasong-7), Scud-ER, and Pukguksong-2 are also operational or undergoing testing. While North Korea claims these systems can carry nuclear warheads, no independent verification has been established.
Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) capabilities are supported by a substantial inventory, with over 250 Hwasong-11D (KN-23) units reportedly in service. The regime is also developing mobile variants for road and rail deployment (KN-23 mod 1 and 2, Hwasong-11A/B/C/S), enhancing mobility and survivability. The Hwasong-8, incorporating a hypersonic glide vehicle, is designed to improve penetration capabilities against missile defense systems.
The Missile Administration of the DPRK successfully conducted test-fires of the new-type tactical ballistic missile Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5 and an improved strategic cruise missile on September 2024 (Picture source: KCNA)
North Korea continues to develop strategic cruise missiles, including the Hwasal-1 and Hwasal-2, which are presumed to have nuclear compatibility. These low-flying, long-range systems are intended to complement the ballistic missile inventory and challenge adversarial air defense systems through varied flight profiles.
In the maritime domain, North Korea commissioned the Hero Kim Kun-Ok submarine in September 2023, converted from a Romeo-class vessel. Equipped with ten vertical launch tubes, it is reportedly capable of launching ballistic or cruise missiles, though its operational reliability remains in question due to the age of the platform.
The regime has also tested rail-based missile launch systems, particularly for the KN-23, offering increased tactical flexibility. These mobile platforms present a lower detection signature and greater survivability compared to fixed silos.
North Korea’s military apparatus is further supported by a substantial human resource base. In addition to its regular armed forces, the country claims to have 10,000 missile troops and maintains a large paramilitary reserve estimated at 5.7 million members in the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Guard, although this force is lightly equipped and limited in operational effectiveness.
The strengthening of military ties with Russia marks another key component of Pyongyang’s evolving strategy. Since late 2023, documented transfers of artillery and short-range missiles to Moscow have taken place. A comprehensive strategic partnership treaty was signed in June 2024, followed by the reported deployment of 10,000 North Korean troops for logistical support in the Kursk region. This bilateral cooperation raises concerns over mutual technological enrichment outside established international frameworks.
In conclusion, North Korea is pursuing an ambitious strategy to modernize and diversify its military capabilities, grounded in mobility, asymmetric deterrence, and a deliberate shift in doctrine. As diplomatic engagement remains stalled, the expansion of Pyongyang’s military-industrial base—coupled with deepening strategic alignments—continues to pose a long-term structural challenge to regional stability and the credibility of deterrence architectures across the Indo-Pacific.