[Feature] Four New High-Precision North Korean Weapons Set

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] It is analyzed that North Korea is enhancing the completeness of its new weapons. The two short-range ballistic missile presumed projectiles launched on the 21st performed "anomalous maneuvers" (pull-up, glide, and ascent) during flight, and are evaluated as North Korean versions of ATACMS or Iskander-class missiles. These test launches are believed to be aimed at improving the completeness of North Korea's new four-weapon set: new tactical guided missiles (tactical guided weapons, North Korean version of Iskander), new large-caliber guided multiple rocket launchers, North Korean version of ATACMS, and super-large multiple rocket launchers.

According to military authorities on the 22nd, if the missiles launched by North Korea are the North Korean version of ATACMS, this is the first launch in about seven months since August 10 and 16 last year. On August 10 last year, North Korea launched from Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province, toward the East Sea with a range of about 400 km (altitude 48 km), and on August 16, from Tongcheon, Kangwon Province, toward the northeast East Sea with a range of about 230 km (altitude 30 km).

Experts judge that, based on North Korea's ballistic missile test patterns, this is likely a range capability test ahead of actual deployment. North Korea usually fires toward the East Sea from the east coast, but at the deployment stage, it fires through inland penetration. This time, the launch was from Seoncheon County adjacent to Cholsan County in North Pyongan Province, penetrating inland and falling into the East Sea.

Professor Kim Dong-yeop of the Far East Institute at Gyeongnam University said, "It is highly likely to be either the North Korean version of Iskander (KN-23) or the North Korean version of ATACMS," adding, "Since ATACMS has not yet performed inland penetration launches, it is possible that this was a test launch for development."

Shin Jong-woo, Secretary General of the Defense Security Forum (KODEF), said, "Since it performed a pull-up maneuver, it is highly likely to be the North Korean version of ATACMS," adding, "This is North Korea's typical missile pattern. They moved inland and fired to extend the range."

Regarding the North Korean version of ATACMS, the interval between launches this time was 5 minutes, the shortest so far. On August 10 last year, the two missiles were launched at 5:34 a.m. and 5:50 a.m., with a 16-minute interval. On August 16, they were launched at 8:01 a.m. and 8:16 a.m., with a 15-minute interval. Although the interval was reduced by about 10 minutes, experts argue that the 5-minute launch interval still shows that the continuous launch capability has not yet reached its full operational stage.

The North Korean version of ATACMS is launched from a tracked or vehicle-type transporter erector launcher (TEL) equipped with two launch tubes. It can hide in tunnels and forests, emerge into open areas to launch two missiles consecutively, and quickly conceal itself again. If the interval between two launches is 1 to 2 minutes, it would be difficult for South Korean and U.S. military authorities to strike with surface-to-surface missiles or precision-guided weapons. North Korea is likely to continue launches aimed at shortening the rapid-fire interval. The ATACMS currently deployed in the South Korean military contains 950 submunitions, capable of devastating an area equivalent to 3 to 4 soccer fields.

Meanwhile, North Korea launched a 600mm-class super-large multiple rocket launcher on the 2nd. Multiple rocket launchers operate by bundling several launch tubes and firing multiple rockets simultaneously at a target. The firing time of the 600mm super-large multiple rocket launcher is decreasing. When North Korea launched the super-large multiple rocket launcher in September last year, it announced a firing time of "19 minutes." This was shortened to "3 minutes" in October and "30 seconds" in November. The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that the firing time of the super-large multiple rocket launcher on the 2nd was 20 seconds. Analysts believe North Korea has already shortened the firing time to acquire surprise attack capability, completed operational deployment, and is conducting proficiency training.

The projectiles launched by North Korea on May 4 and 9 last year are "a new type of short-range ballistic missile with characteristics similar to Russia's Iskander." This missile is called the North Korean version of Iskander (ISKANDER), the KN-23 missile. The Iskander missile, developed by Russia, is a state-of-the-art short-range tactical ballistic missile that performs evasive maneuvers to strike targets, making it a threatening weapon capable of evading most existing missile defense systems.

North Korea claimed that the short-range ballistic missiles launched twice on July 31 and August 2 last year were "new large-caliber guided multiple rocket launchers." Multiple rocket launchers operate by bundling several launch tubes and firing multiple rockets simultaneously at a target. If this claim is correct, these are 400mm-class multiple rocket launchers. It is suggested that these may be upgraded versions of North Korea's 300mm new multiple rocket launchers. North Korea's existing 107mm, 122mm, and 240mm multiple rocket launchers have ranges that do not reach 200 km. North Korea's 300mm new multiple rocket launcher, developed by imitating China's WS-1B, has a range of 170 to 200 km, similar to short-range missiles.