Hwasong-11[1]
TypeSRBM
Place of originNorth Korea
USSR
Service history
In service2008-present
Used byKorean People's Army Strategic Force
Production history
ManufacturerNorth Korea
Specifications
Mass2,010 kg (4,430 lb)
Length6.4 m (21 ft)
Diameter0.65 m (2.1 ft)
Warheadsingle HE, submunition, thermonuclear, chemical
Warhead weight250 or 485 kg (551 or 1,069 lb)
EngineSolid-fuel rocket
Propellantsolid
Operational
range
~120–220 km (75–137 mi)[2][3]
Guidance
system
Inertial, optical correlation system
Accuracy100 m[4]
Launch
platform
TEL
KN-02 Toksa
Chosŏn'gŭl
Hancha
Revised RomanizationDoksa
McCune–ReischauerToksa
lit. Viper

The KN-02 Toksa (Korean: 독사; lit. Viper 毒蛇), Hwasong-11[5] is a North Korean reverse-engineered locally produced modification of the OTR-21 Tochka short-range ballistic missile.

Design and development

In 1983, Syria acquired a number of 9K79 Tochka (SS-21 Scarab-A) missiles from the Soviet Union, a single-stage, solid-propellant guided missile with a range of 70 km and a CEP of 160 m. In 1996, Syrian missile technicians provided North Korea with technical data on the missiles, then shipped some of the missiles themselves. The first test of a North Korean-produced version occurred in April 2004 and was a failure, but it was then successfully fired on 1 May 2005 into the Sea of Japan; the KN-02 has been tested at least 17 times. Initial production is believed to have begun in 2006, with the missile displayed aboard a launcher during a military parade in April 2007, and entering service in 2008. At least 50 missiles are speculated to be in service.[6][7][8]

The KN-02 is a short-range, road-mobile ballistic missile, broadly equivalent to improved Scarab-B. Although it has a shorter range than other North Korean missiles like the Scud-C, it has superior accuracy of near 100 meters CEP through inertial guidance with an optical correlation system in the terminal phase, making it the most accurate ballistic missile in the inventory; this enables it to be used for precision strikes against priority targets such as airfields, command posts, bridges, storage facilities, and even enemy troops concentrations in a tactical support role on the battlefield. Its warhead weighs 485 kg (1,069 lb) and likely consists of a high-explosive, submunition, thermonuclear, chemical payload; Russian engineers could equip the OTR-21 with a 100 kiloton nuclear warhead. The missile has a range of 120–140 km (75–87 mi), and it may be capable of traveling 160 km (99 mi) through reducing payload to 250 kg (550 lb).[6][7][9][10]

A significant difference between the Russian OTR-21 and North Korean KN-02 is the transporter erector launcher (TEL). While the Russian missile is transported and fired from the 6×6 9P129 that has amphibious capabilities, the KN-02's TEL is a locally fabricated version of the Belarusian MAZ-630308-224 or -243 6×4 or 6×6 commercial heavy utility truck, which has a maximum road speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) and is not amphibious. The vehicle has a short firing cycle, able to be ready for launch in 16 minutes, launch the missile in 2 minutes, and be reloaded in 20 minutes by a supporting reloader vehicle of the same design fitted with a crane and holding 2-4 more missiles.[6][7][10][11][12][13]

Further developments

In 2013, South Korean intelligence reports suggested that North Korea was developing an anti-ship ballistic missile version of the KN-02. Its range is estimated to be 200–300 km (120–190 mi; 110–160 nmi), longer than current KN-01 variants, and it would be much more difficult to intercept due to its faster speed.[14]

In March 2014, a South Korean military source claimed that the KN-02's range had been extended to 170 km (110 mi) through improved engine performance. The source also claimed that North Korea possessed 100 missiles with 30 TELs deployed to fire them.[15] In August 2014, three KN-02s were fired out to a range of 220 km (140 mi)[16] and estimated to have 100 meter circular error probable accuracy.[17]

Extended range Hwasong-11/KN-02 is referred to as KN-10.[18][19][20][21] It is expected that range of the missile is greater than 230 kilometers.[22]

The U.S. identified the KN-10 system back in 2010.[23]

In January 2024, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby reported that Russia launched North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine. According to Joost Oliemans, photographic evidence indicates that Hwasong-11 missiles such as the KN-23 and KN-24 were used in the attacks.[24]

Operators

See also

OTR-21 Tochka

References

  1. ↑ "Real Name!". Northeast Asian Military Studies. 16 July 2017. Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  2. ↑ Schilling, John (29 March 2016). "A Solid but Incremental Improvement in North Korea's Missiles". 38 North. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  3. ↑ Grisafi, John G. (16 August 2014). "Recent launches revealed as surface-to-surface missile". NK News. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "KN-02 'Toksa'". Missile Threat. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "North Korean Missile Designations". Global Security. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 KN-02 Archived 4 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Missilethreat.csis.org
  7. 1 2 3 KN-02 Archived 31 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Military-Today.com
  8. ↑ KN-02 Short Range Ballistic Missile Archived 23 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Globalsecurity.org
  9. ↑ KN-02 (Toksa) Archived 5 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Missiledefenseadvocacy.org
  10. 1 2 KN-02 short-range ground-to-ground ballistic missile Archived 6 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Armyrecognition.com
  11. ↑ OTR-21 Tochka Archived 14 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Weaponsystems.net
  12. ↑ KPA Journal Vol. 1, No. 2 Archived 9 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine - February 2010
  13. ↑ KPA Journal Vol. 1, No. 3 - March 2010
  14. ↑ N.Korea Developing Anti-Ship Missile Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Chosun.com, 14 October 2013
  15. ↑ N. Korea has 100 KN-02 missiles with extended range Archived 29 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Yonhapnews.co.kr, 5 March 2014
  16. ↑ John G. Grisafi (16 August 2014). "Recent launches revealed as surface-to-surface missile". NK News. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "N.Korea Fired Ballistic Missiles for Pope's Visit". english.chosun.com.
  18. ↑ "North Korea's March Towards ICBM Capability". 2 June 2017.
  19. ↑ "[취재파일] 北 미사일 시리즈, 어느새 KN-11까지". SBS NEWS. 22 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "[기획] '눈 가리고 주먹질' 하는 킬 체인...반쪽짜리 논란". 나우뉴스.
  21. ↑ "무기 토론방 - 유용원의 군사세계". bemil.chosun.com.
  22. ↑ "한미 당국, 北 14일 발사체 "신형 전술미사일" 결론". 중앙일보. 18 August 2014.
  23. ↑ "北, 신형 지대지 전술미사일 개발한 듯…에이태킴스와 닮은 꼴(종합2보)". YonhapNews. 11 August 2019.
  24. 1 2 Smith, Josh (5 January 2024). "Explainer: Where did Russia get its North Korean missiles?". Reuters. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
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