[Correspondent Diary] Chinese Media Describe North Korea's 'Death Train' as "Threatening"

North Korea is the Only Country Operating Train-Mounted Missile Launchers
Capable of Striking Across South Korea and Parts of Japan... Excellent Mobility and Concealment

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese media analyzed North Korea's railway mobile ballistic missile launcher as highly concealed and therefore threatening.

Chinese media outlet Pengpai evaluated that the ballistic missile North Korea fired on the 15th was launched from a train, and that North Korea is the only country possessing a railway mobile ballistic missile launcher. The media added that the ballistic missile fired by North Korea's railway mobile missile regiment accurately struck a target 800 km away.

Mobile ballistic missile launcher on North Korean railway (Photo by Pengpai)

Pengpai did not disclose the model of the missile fired this time but estimated it to be either KN-23 or KN-24. The KN-23 is known as the "North Korean version of the Iskander" missile, capable of evading missile defense systems. It also analyzed that the flight range of 800 km can strike all of South Korea and parts of Japan.

The greatest advantage of the railway mobile ballistic missile is its rapid mobility and difficulty in surveillance and tracking, the media evaluated. Trains can typically move at speeds of 100 km/h and can travel about 1,000 km per day.

Above all, it is difficult to distinguish the launcher from civilian freight trains in appearance, making it challenging to monitor the railway mobile missile launcher with reconnaissance assets such as satellites, the analysis said.

Pengpai cited a 2018 article from the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, reporting that North Korea's total railway length reached 7,435 km (as of 2014). It explained that North Korea developed the railway mobile missile launcher because its railway network is denser than its general road network.

Former Soviet Union train-type mobile missile launcher (Photo by Pengpai)

The media reported that the mobile missile train showcased by North Korea is reminiscent of Russia's (former Soviet Union) "Death Train." The former Soviet Union operated train-type mobile launchers. This mobile train, which carried SS-24 missiles, consisted of 20 cars including a locomotive, launchers, and command and control cars, and was operated until 2008. Russia announced in 2016 that it would reactivate railway mobile ballistic missiles but indefinitely suspended mobile missile development due to financial difficulties, the media reported.

Pengpai stated that the railway mobile ballistic missile launcher, along with long-range cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and long-range rocket artillery, will enhance North Korea's strike capabilities, and predicted that North Korea may develop railway mobile missile launchers equipped with medium- to long-range ballistic missiles or intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in the future.