North Korea's new "hypersonic glider" missile Hwasong-18*

Norbert Brügge, Germany

Update: 27.04.2022

HS-18 on the parade in 2022, April 25

2021, September 29 (KCNA) -- The Academy of Defence Science of the DPRK test-fired a hypersonic missile Hwasong-18. *The designation HS-8 must be a transmission error. HS-8 already exists and is a Nodong. In the first test-launch, national defence scientists confirmed the navigational control and stability of the missile in the active section and also its technical specifications including the guiding maneuverability and the gliding flight characteristics of the detached hypersonic gliding warhead.
It also ascertained the stability of the engine as well as of missile fuel ampoule** that has been introduced for the first time. The test results proved that all the technical specifications met the design requirements.
** "Ampulization," referring to the fueling & hermetically sealing of a ballistic missile at the factory, was a Soviet innovation, developed by the Makeev bureau and first used in the R-27 SLBM.“ (Source: Michael Duitsman)

First analysis: The HS-18 (not HS-8) missile is probaby a derivative of the HS-14 with a diameter of 1.80 m. This can be recognized at the airframe. The distance between the Verniers and the nozzle of the main engine is larger than of the HS-12. The tanks have been shortened by a fourth. The typical shape of a glider cannot be seen here in the photo.

From left to right: HS-17, HS-15, HS-12+HGV (!), HS-12 ....... A "Pektusan-A1"engine can also be seen in the foreground

 
This thing is without a doubt the model of a glider (with jet engine)

   
The same model !