A Newsweek map illustrates the range of North Korean missiles that could threaten U.S. forces stationed at Pacific bases—and, in some cases, even reach the continental United States—should a conflict erupt.

Why It Matters

The Kim Jong Un regime in North Korea continues to build out its United Nations-sanctioned ballistic missile program, fueling tensions with South Korea and Japan. The latest missiles are newer, more modern, likely detectable for a shorter time window, and have extended ranges—some believed capable of targeting much of the contiguous 48 states.

Pyongyang insists its expanding missile and nuclear programs are necessary for self-defense, pointing to military exercises focused on countering North Korean attacks, held by the U.S. alongside allied South Korea and Japan—both of which host thousands of American troops.

Newsweek reached out by email to the North Korean Embassy in China with a request for comment outside of regular office hours

What To Know

North Korea is believed to possess an unknown number of medium-range missiles, including the Hwasong-9—also known by its NATO designation, Scud extended range (Scud-ER)—likely a longer-range variant of the earlier Hwasong-6.

This road-mobile missile is estimated by the Center for Strategic and International Studies to have a range of up to 620 miles. In a conflict, that would allow it to deliver a high-explosive, chemical, or potentially miniaturized nuclear warhead anywhere in South Korea and into southwestern Japan, including the joint U.S. Marine Corps–Japanese air station at Iwakuni.

North Korea’s missile arsenal also includes intermediate-range systems such as the Hwasong-10, known internationally as the BM-25 Musudan. This missile is believed capable of delivering a conventional or nuclear payload of about 2,600 pounds as far as 2,490 miles—enough range to threaten American military targets in the Western Pacific, including the U.S. territory of Guam.

First tested in 2017, the Hwasong-14, dubbed KN-20 by the U.S., was North Korea’s first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Depending on its payload, it is estimated to be capable of traveling up to 6,460 miles, placing Hawaii, Alaska, and much of the continental United States within range.

What People Are Saying

State-run Korean Central News Agency cited Kim as saying in May that “the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] should continue to direct efforts to steadily improving the long-range precision striking capability and efficiency of weapons systems.”

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is North Korea’s official name.

The U.S. Director of National Intelligence wrote in its 2025 threat assessment: “Kim will continue to prioritize efforts to build a more capable missile force—from cruise missiles to ICBMs and hypersonic glide vehicles—designed to evade U.S. and regional missile defenses, improve the North’s precision-strike capabilities, and put U.S. and allied forces at risk.

What Happens Next

An unclassified report released earlier this year by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessed that North Korea currently has 10 or fewer ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S., but speculated that this number could rise to as many as 50 by 2035.