Analysis of the show of arms conducted during a mass military parade last week indicates that the missiles which were displayed are “mock-ups.”  Markus Schiller and Robert Schmucker, of Germany’s Schmucker Technologie, claimed that the weapons displayed at the parade “appear to be a mishmash of liquid-fuel and solid-fuel components that could never fly together[,]… the metal is too thin to withstand flight[,]… [and] each missile was slightly different from the others.”  This analysis is in contrast to the “international stir” that was created when the missiles, which appear to be new and designed for long-range attacks, were unveiled at the event.  Additionally, Pyongyang’s top military leaders have subsequently made boastful statements about its weapons capabilities, including that the United States is able to be defeated “at a single blow” and that “special actions” would be taken Seoul’s to reduce the government to ashes within minutes.  Although it appears unclear as to whether the missiles are actually real or are fakes – it is clear that getting any information about what North Korea is up to will not come easy.

See Analysts say North Korea’s new missiles are fakes, New York Post, (April 26, 2012), http://http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/analysts_say_north_korea_new_missiles_aoXZGxdZKVy4UHZzobITYN