Ballistic Missile: North Korea | 21 Oct 2021

Why in News

Recently, North Korea fired a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) from off its East Coast.

  • North Korea is barred from testing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons under international law.

Key Points

  • Ballistic Missile:
    • It is a rocket-propelled self-guided strategic-weapons system that follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver a payload from its launch site to a predetermined target.
      • Ballistic trajectory is the path of an unpowered object, as a missile, moving only under the influence of gravity and possibly atmospheric friction and with its surface providing no significant lift to alter the course of flight.
    • It can carry conventional high explosives as well as chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions.
    • The International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (ICOC), now known as the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC), is a political initiative aimed at globally curbing ballistic missile proliferation.
      • India is a signatory to this convention.
    • Established in April 1987, the voluntary Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) aims to limit the spread of ballistic missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks.
      • India has joined the MTCR.
  • Some of India's Ballistic Missiles:

Source: TH