North Korea's Potential Application of Russian Missile Technology [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

North Korea "Missile General Bureau Successfully Conducts Warhead Separation and Guidance Control Test"
Possibility of Applying Russian Technology to 240mm Multiple Rocket Launcher Shells

There are observations that North Korea has begun to receive key missile-related technologies from Russia in earnest. It appears that North Korea is continuing test launches by acquiring technologies such as multiple warheads and guidance systems, which had been insufficient during missile development, from Russia.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

North Korea's Korean Central News Agency stated on the 27th regarding the ballistic missile launch conducted the previous day, "The Missile General Bureau successfully conducted individual maneuvering warhead separation and guidance control tests, which hold significant meaning in achieving the goal of advancing missile technology."

This is the first time North Korea has publicly disclosed missile test launches aimed at securing multiple warhead capabilities. Multiple warhead missiles can attack several targets simultaneously and are considered an important stage in the process of enhancing nuclear and missile capabilities. During the test, the separated warheads were "accurately guided to three preset target coordinate points," and it was claimed that "the effectiveness of decoys separated from the missile was also verified using anti-aircraft target detection radars."

Russia Has Transferred Missile Technology to North Korea Since 1987

It is also highly likely that North Korea received guidance system technology from Russia. Russia transferred medium-range missile technology to North Korea after signing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with the United States in 1987 during the Soviet era. The INF Treaty was an agreement between the US and the former Soviet Union to eliminate ground-launched nuclear missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km and to refrain from developing, producing, or deploying missiles in that category. However, the treaty was abandoned after the US unilaterally withdrew in August 2019, citing Russia's continuous violations.

North Korea has continued test launches of missile guidance systems using this technology. In February, it announced the development of a new 240mm guided rocket artillery projectile, and three months later, last month, Chairman Kim Jong-un inspected the 240mm rocket artillery system and observed a guided rocket artillery projectile test firing. This is interpreted as a technological upgrade to improve accuracy by equipping the rocket artillery projectile with a 'guidance' function. The 240mm rocket artillery is generally known as a weapon system aimed at the Seoul metropolitan area and is often mentioned when the so-called 'Seoul will be a sea of fire' threat is raised. There is also analysis suggesting that the development of the 240mm projectile is intended with Russian exports in mind. The mention of 'defense economic projects' on this day also appears to express an intention to engage in arms exports.

North Korea Applies Guidance System to 240mm Rocket Artillery Projectile This Year

North Korea may have applied guidance system technology for the first time to this solid-fuel hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile (IRBM), which is presumed to be the missile tested. North Korea had previously succeeded in test launches of this missile in January and April, but this time it failed. This suggests that, taking advantage of close North Korea-Russia military cooperation, advanced technology was transferred from Russia and applied for the first time, but the attempt failed due to trial and error.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff classified the missile launch as a failure the previous day. Regarding the large amount of unusually white smoke generated during the missile's flight, they stated, "There was a problem with combustion." It is analyzed that the failure in flight attitude control occurred while attempting to apply a new propellant developed with technology transferred from Russia.

Kim Dae-young, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Strategic Studies, said, "It is highly likely that through the recent North Korea-Russia summit, Russia provided a precision reception system related to the Russian version of the satellite navigation system (GPS), GLONASS, or a high-precision inertial navigation system," adding, "If so, the accuracy of North Korean missiles could be greatly improved."