Is North Korea's new missile really “the most powerful in the world”?

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North Korean television broadcast Thursday images of the launch of the new giant missile “Hwasong-19”, which Pyongyang describes as “the most powerful strategic missile in the world” and of “advanced weapon system”.

But according to several experts, photos show that the missile and its launcher are both oversized, which would compromise their mobility and survivability in a real war situation.

“When missiles get bigger, what happens? Vehicles get bigger too. When launch devices get bigger, their mobility decreases”explains Lee Sangmin, an expert at the South Korean Institute for Defense Analysis.

According to Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at the Korea National Strategy Research Institute in Seoul, the Hwasong-19 is said to be at least 28 meters long, while the most advanced US and Russian intercontinental missiles are less than 20 meters.

According to the expert, the size of the missile likely helped South Korean intelligence detect Thursday's launch in advance.

“In the event of a real conflict, their imposing dimensions make the launcher and the weapon more vulnerable to a preemptive attack, which greatly compromises their survival”explains Chang Young-keun.

In recent years, North Korea has reported steady progress in its efforts to acquire nuclear-tipped missiles.

But many experts believe that while Pyongyang is now capable of carrying out nuclear strikes on South Korea, more distant targets, such as the United States, are still beyond its reach.