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 range of 410 km.

KN-24 Development

North Korea first test fired the KN-24 near the eastern coastal city of Hamhung on August 10, 2019. The two test missiles flew a depressed trajectory, reaching an apogee of 48 km and a range of 400 km.¹ Six days later, North Korea test fired two more KN-24 missiles from Tongchon to an apogee of 30 km and a range of 230 km.² In subsequent releases, North Korean state media referred to the missiles a “tactical guided weapon.” The U.S. intelligence community has designated the missile as the KN-24.³ 

On March 21, 2020, North Korea conducted its third test launch of the KN-24, firing two missiles from Sonchon to an apogee of 50 km and a range of 410 km.⁴ These missiles reportedly performed “pull-up maneuvers” in flight.⁵ Similar missiles, like the Russian Iskander-M SRBM, use pull-up maneuvers to orient onboard targeting systems and evade interception such maneuvers to orient active guidance systems. It is unclear whether the KN-24 possesses radar or other terminal seekers.

Design

The KN-24 is similar in appearance to the United States’ MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), measuring an estimated 4.57 – 5.55m in length and 0.7 – 0.85 m in diameter.⁶ Analysts speculate that the missile carries a unitary warhead with a payload of 400 – 500 kg.⁷

The KN-24 has demonstrated a range of up to 410 km and can maneuver n flight to fly non-parabolic trajectories. Use of such maneuvers can make it more difficult for missile defenses to establish a predicted point of intercept. The missile may also possessed enhanced accuracy over Scud-based SRBMs. In one test, North Korea struck an 100 meter-wide island, with the missile, suggesting improvements in the missile’s precision.⁸