26 items, Page 1 of 0
August 4, 2017
The Koksan M1978 is a North Korean 170 mm self-propelled artillery gun, and is the DPRK’s longest range non-rocket artillery weapon. First seen by U.S. intelligence in 1978 (hence its name), the M1978 is a long-barreled weapon mounted externally on a tank chassis. Koksan M1978 Development The weapon’s design took elements from both Russian coastal artillery...
July 10, 2017
The KN-09 is believed to be a 300mm Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) under development by North Korea. The KN-09 is reported to have a range of up to 200 kilometers, significantly further than similar rocket artillery systems previously deployed by the DPRK. KN-09 Development Much remains unclear about the development history and capabilities of...
August 4, 2017
The M1985 and M1991 are 240 mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) produced by North Korea. These, along with other unguided artillery rockets, represent a key means by which North Korea holds Seoul and South Korea at risk, supporting its deterrence posture. M1985/1991 Development and Deployment While their development timelines remain unclear, U.S. intelligence services...
September 8, 2017
The KN-06 (Pon’gae-5) is a North Korean surface-to-air missile. North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un declared the KN-06 weapons system operationally capable following a test on May 28, 2017. KN-06 Development In the early 2000s, North Korea began efforts to obtain advanced air defense systems to replace aging fleet of S-200 surface-to-air missiles. After a protracted...
August 8, 2016
The KN-01 is the U.S. designation for a North Korean antiship cruise missile. It is an extended-range variant of the Soviet Union’s P-15 Termit (also known as Styx and SS-N-2) and China’s HY-1/2 Silkworm. KN-01 Development North Korea’s acquisition of the KN-01 came from a combination of imports from China and the Soviet Union, domestic production, and...
June 8, 2017
The Kumsong-3 (U.S. designation: KN-19) is a North Korean variant of the Soviet-designed Kh-35 antiship cruise missile (ASCM). Though its capabilities have not been publicized, the Kumsong-3 likely shares performance characteristics with the Kh-35, which features a range of 130 – 250 km. This represents a significant capability improvement over the KN-01, a North Korean ASCM derived...
April 12, 2016
The KN-02 “Toksa” is a solid-fueled short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) resembling the Russian-built OTR-21 Tochka (SS-21 Scarab), which North Korea likely obtained from Syria in the 1990s. KN-02 Development The first missile test, in April 2004, was a failure. Since 2004, the KN-02 has been tested at least 20 times, achieving an initial operating capability...
August 8, 2016
The Hwasong-6 is the North Korean-produced variant of the Russian ‘Scud C’ and is a short-range ballistic missile. It has been in service with the DRPK rocket force since 1992. Hwasong-6 Development & Specificaitons North Korea began development of the missile began around 1984, with initial production in starting in 1989, and reached peak production...
August 8, 2016
The Hwasong-5 is a North Korean short-range ballistic missile (SRBM). It is the DPRK variant of the Soviet-produced ‘Scud B‘, which North Korea purchased from Egypt and reverse engineered. Hwasong-5 Development North Korea began developing the Hwasong-5 in 1981 after importing Soviet-built ‘Scud B’ missiles from Egypt, and began flight tests in 1984. Compared to...
August 8, 2016
The Hwasong 9, or Scud-ER, is a North Korean medium-range ballistic missile, an extended range version of North Korea’s Hwasong-6. The Hwasong 9 has a demonstrated max range of around 1,000 km. Hwasong-9 Development & Specifications Development of the Scud-ER reportedly began in 1991. The first flight test occurred in 1993, but the similarity to the Hwasong-6...
April 18, 2017
In April 2016, North Korea displayed a new variant of Scud with a maneuvering reentry vehicle (MaRV). Its first known test on May 28, 2017 was considered a success. The U.S. government has designated the missile as the KN-18. KN-18 Development North Korea first displayed the KN-18 at its annual military parade in Pyongyang on April 16,...
August 9, 2016
The Hwasong 7 (Nodong 1) is a North Korean medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM). It has a range of at least 1,200 km, and served as the design basis for the Iranian Shahab-3 MRBM and Pakistan’s Hatf-7 Ghauri. Nodong 1 Development North Korea began developing the Nodong 1 in the mid 1980s and conducted its first...
August 29, 2016
The Pukguksong-1 (Korean: Polaris-1, US designation: KN-11) is a two-stage, solid-fueled North Korean submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The missile bears an external resemblance to the Soviet-designed R-27/SS-N-6 Serb SLBM. North Korea has conducted five flight tests of the KN-11, and well as numerous other tests of the missile’s ejection system and other subsystems. Pukguksong-1 Development...
March 5, 2017
The Pukguksong-2 (US designation: KN-15) is a North Korean medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) derived from the Pukguksong-1 submarine-launched ballistic missile. Pukguksong-2 Development The Pukguksong-2 is a land-based variant of the Pukguksong-1 submarine-launched ballistic missile, whose began some time before 2014. North Korea first flight tested the Pukguksong-2 on February 12, 2017 from an airbase in...
August 8, 2016
The BM-25 Musudan (Hwasong-10) is a North Korean intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). It is speculated to have a range of 2,500 – 4,000 km with a 500 – 1,200 kg payload—enough to hold bases in Guam and Japan at risk. BM-25 Musudan Development The BM-25 Musudan is derived from the Soviet R-27 (NATO: SS-N-6 ‘Serb’) submarine-launched...
August 9, 2016
The Taepodong-1 was a North Korean ballistic missile technology demonstrator. Beginning in 1994, North Korea publicly displayed two- and three-stage configurations of the liquid-fueled missile, and flight tested the three-stage configuration in 1998. The missile is capable of carrying a 750 kg payload to a range of 2,000 km in a two-stage configuration, and to...
August 8, 2016
The Taepodong-2 is a three stage, liquid-fueled, militarized version of North Korea’s Unha-3 satellite launch vehicle. While the Unha-3 is intended to place satellites into orbit, the Taepodong-2 carries a reentry vehicle for a military payload. It has an estimated range of 10,000 km with a 1,000 kg payload. Taepodong-2 Development North Korea reportedly began...
May 16, 2017
The Hwasong-12 (KN-17) is a North Korean intermediate-range ballistic missile. It has a range of 4,500 kilometers. It was successfully test-launched for the first time on May 14, 2017. Hwasong-12 Development The Hwasong-12 first appeared in North Korea’s “Day of the Sun” parade on April 15, 2017. It was speculated at the time that it...
August 8, 2016
The Hwasong-13 (KN-08 / KN-14) was an experimental North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile. North Korea first displayed a Hwasong-13 in a parade on April 15, 2012, and showcased a modified variant—designated separately by the United States as the KN-14—on October 10, 2015. Both variants have ceased to appear in public parades following the introduction of...
July 27, 2017
The Hwasong-14 (U.S. designation KN-20) is a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), first tested on July 4, 2017. It is the first ICBM North Korea has flown. Depending on payload, the missile could travel up to 10,400 km, placing most of the continental United States within range. Design and Development The Hwasong-14 is a...
December 7, 2017
The Hwasong-15 (U.S. designation: KN-22) is a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile. It employs two liquid-fuelled stages with an estimated range of up to 13,000 km. Hwasong-15 Development North Korea began developing the Hwasong-15 sometime before 2017. The U.S. intelligence community was apparently aware of the Hwasong-15’s development before its maiden launch, and the missile’s...
June 14, 2018
Due to the growing obsolescence of North Korea’s conventional military capabilities, North Korea has for decades relied on a national security strategy based on asymmetric capabilities and weapons of mass destruction. Pyongyang has invested heavily in the development of increasingly long-range ballistic missiles and the miniaturization of its nascent nuclear weapons stockpile. North Korea uses...
July 1, 2019
The KN-23 is a North Korean short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) first tested in May 2019. The missile flies on a quasi-ballistic trajectory and has a maximum range of 690 km. Due to its visual similarity to Russia’s Iskander-M SRBM, analysts dispute whether the missile was constructed with foreign assistance. KN-23 Development After displaying the missile on parade in February 2019, North Korea first tested the...
October 4, 2019
The KN-25 is a North Korean short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) with a demonstrated range of 380 km. First tested on August 25, 2019, the “super-large” rocket blurs the distinction between multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) and short-range ballistic missiles. KN-25 Development Little is known about the KN-25’s early development. North Korea first flight tested the system...
October 7, 2019
The Pukguksong-3 (US designation: KN-26) is a North Korean submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) with an estimated range of 1,900 km. After implying the program’s existence in 2017, North Korea tested the missile near Wonsan on October 2, 2019. Pukguksong-3 Development North Korea first suggested the existence of the Pukguksong-3 in August 2017, revealing a diagram...
April 15, 2020
The KN-24 is a North Korean short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) first tested in August 2019. The missile flies on a quasi-ballistic trajectory and has an estimated maximum range of 410 km.