Strategic innovations: the latest development of the DPRK in the field of missile weapons
An operational-tactical missile system with two missiles, tested in March
To ensure national security and deter a potential enemy, the DPRK pays great attention to the creation and production of missile weapons of all major classes. Tests of new missile systems are regularly carried out, and then promising products are demonstrated at open events. 2021 was no exception - Pyongyang once again boasted of its new developments, which may enter service in the near future.
According to official reports ...
The DPRK is pursuing a policy of containing a potential enemy by all available means. In particular, for this purpose, the latest successes in the field of missile weapons are regularly demonstrated. New designs and products are shown at parades and open exhibitions. In addition, flight tests of new samples are carried out at regular intervals.
This year, Korea's Central Telegraph Agency reported several times that new missile test launches were being carried out. news attached photographs of prototypes and the launch process. In such news, each time it was about products of different types and classes. At the same time, several of these messages were of particular interest, since they talked about testing equipment of a fundamentally new class for the DPRK.
Launch and flight of a cruise missile, September 2021
CTAC reports almost always receive confirmation from foreign officials and the press. In addition, foreign sources often publish interesting information of a technical nature, which seriously supplements the official press releases of the DPRK.
Ballistic novelties
On January 14, a military parade was held in Pyongyang to mark the end of the VIII Congress of the DPRK Labor Party. Together with other equipment, a previously unknown operational-tactical missile system, carrying two ammunition at once, passed through the Kim Il Sung square for the first time. However, details were not provided at that time.
At the end of March, TsTAK announced the testing of this OTRK. The test program provided for the launch of two missiles at a conditional target in the Korean East Sea (Sea of Japan) at a distance of 600 km. The products successfully hit the target. TsTAK clarifies that these missiles are solid-propellant and carry a warhead weighing 2,5 tons.
Army representatives study a new cruise missile at the Self-Defense-2021 exhibition
In October, Pyongyang hosted the Self-Defense 2021 exhibition dedicated to modern developments in the military sphere. It demonstrated wksq a set of ballistic missiles for various purposes, incl. two unknown products. The purpose and characteristics of these missiles were not reported. At that time, one could assume that we are talking about new weapons for submarines and ground complexes.
Winged prototype
On September 13, TsTAK announced the successful tests of a new long-range strategic cruise missile. The launches of two prototypes took place the day before, on September 11 and 12. The missiles have confirmed the design characteristics and can now enter service.
The cruise missiles, whose name has not been reported, were launched from a ground-based launcher. It is based on a four-axle chassis and is equipped with five containers with missiles. The rocket itself is built according to a normal aerodynamic configuration and has a cylindrical body with a swept-out wing. The power plant includes a sustainer turbofan engine and a solid-fuel starting engine. A combined guidance system is used, the composition of which is not specified.
Combat railway missile system is preparing to launch
According to the CTAC, the flights were carried out in the airspace of the DPRK along closed trajectories in the form of an oval and a figure of eight. The flight duration was 7580 seconds (just over 2 hours), and during this time the missiles covered approx. 1500 km. The products successfully hit the intended targets, thanks to which they were highly appreciated.
A month later, a new cruise missile and a launcher were shown at Self-Defense-2021. However, new details of the project, its current status and prospects remain unknown.
Rocket on rails
Already on September 15, the following tests of a fundamentally new system for the DPRK took place - a combat railway missile system. The events were first reported by the foreign military and the media, and the next day, the CTAC issued an official press release.
Takeoff of a rocket with a BZHRK
It was reported that a specially formed railway-mobile missile regiment brought its BZHRK to a predetermined position and performed two launches at targets at a distance of 800 km. The targets were successfully hit, and the complex left the position in the shortest possible time. Such tests have shown that the BZHRK is an effective retaliatory strike with broad operational capabilities. Also, officials announced the need for the earliest possible expansion of the existing regiment to a brigade.
The BZHRK developed by the DPRK is a train that includes a diesel locomotive, a car with a control point and places of calculation, as well as a car with launchers. The latter carries two operational-tactical missiles at once. Judging by their appearance, these products are borrowed from one of the latest mobile OTRK.
Hypersonic technology
Extremely interesting news came on September 29th. On the eve, tests were carried out of the promising hypersonic missile system "Hwaseong-8". As part of a test run, the complex showed all the required characteristics, but they were not named. Later, at the exhibition in October, they demonstrated a complex with a new rocket and its special warhead.
Hwaseong-8 rocket launch
"Hwaseong-8" is used with a launcher on a multi-axle special chassis. The rocket received a liquid propulsion system with an ampoule fuel system - for the first time in North Korean practice. The complex includes a hypersonic gliding warhead with characteristic angular contours, also the first in the DPRK. The start is carried out vertically; then the rocket gives the warhead the required speed and drops it for independent flight along a given trajectory with maneuvering.
The tests were commented on by the country's leadership. The particular importance of both new technologies brought to the test is noted. Now it is required to complete work on the hypersonic complex and bring it to alert duty.
Out of the water
The latest tests of the new missile weapons took place on October 19. This time, the work of a promising ballistic missile for submarines was tested, the name of which is not yet known. According to TsTAK, the launch was carried out by the diesel-electric submarine "8.24 Yonggun" from the water area near the Shinpo naval base for a conditional target in the Sea of Japan. The tests ended with the successful completion of the flight mission.
Hypersonic missile system at the exhibition
The tested rocket is outwardly similar to the model shown earlier at the exhibition "Self-Defense-2021". A press release and test photos show that it is powered by a solid propellant propulsion system and has an advanced control system that provides maneuvering in flight. According to Japanese data, the test launch range was approx. 600 km, which defines the new product as a short-range missile.
It is noteworthy that the new missile in terms of basic flight characteristics is seriously inferior to the latest developments in the field of SLBMs, but has other advantages. For the first time in North Korean practice, a submarine missile is capable of maneuvering and thereby hindering interception. The presence of "traditional" and maneuvering ballistic missiles shows how the DPRK plans to develop the naval component of its strategic forces.
Containment technologies
Thus, the DPRK does not stop the development of new missile weapons suitable for use in the strategic deterrence system. New samples of all major classes are regularly tested and shown at public events - as a reason for pride for their people and as a warning to a potential adversary.
Promising short-range ballistic missile for submarines
Recent tests, incl. This year's launches clearly show that the DPRK was able to create, obtain or develop the competencies necessary to create ballistic and quasi-ballistic, as well as cruise missiles. In this respect, North Korean industry is gradually catching up with world leaders. At the same time, she is trying to master the advanced hypersonic direction, and not without success.
Due to the characteristic secrecy regime, the exact characteristics and capabilities, the current status and prospects of new developments remain unknown. Nevertheless, Pyongyang is doing everything possible to ensure that its strategic forces have the greatest possible potential. And so that the potential adversary can imagine what kind of rebuff he will receive in the event of an attack.
Information