KN-23

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KN-23
TypeShort-range ballistic missile
Service history
Used by North Korea
Production history
Designed2018
Specifications
Mass3,415 kg (7,529 lb)
Length8.7 m (29 ft) (early)
9.8 m (32 ft) (late)
Diameter1.1 m (3 ft 7 in)
Warhead500 kg (1,100 lb)
Enginesolid composite propellant
Operational
range
450 km (280 mi) (initial version, standard payload)
600 km (370 mi) (larger version, standard payload)
Guidance
system
Inertial navigation system (INS), possible satellite navigation
Accuracy100–200 m
Launch
platform
8×8 wheeled TEL
10×10 wheeled TEL
Railway car

KN-23 is a designation given to a North Korean solid-fueled tactical ballistic missile.

Design[]

Initial variant[]

The KN-23 bears an external resemblance to the Russian Iskander-M and South Korean Hyunmoo-2B SRBMs, being distinguished by its elongated cable raceway, different jet vane actuators and smooth base. Like the Iskander-M, it flies in a quasi-ballistic trajectory, flattening out below an altitude of about 50 km (160,000 ft) where the atmosphere is dense enough so the missile's fins can change course along its flight path. It is believed to have a range of some 450 km with a 500 kg warhead, putting all of South Korea within range, though it is possible to extend range out to 690 km with a reduced payload; warhead is likely to be unitary, submunition, or possibly nuclear. The KN-23's active steering capability could make it accurate to within 100 meters CEP with satellite guidance, or within 200 meters using INS alone. It is launched from a wheeled transporter-erector-launcher (TEL).[1][2][3]

Nonetheless, the KN-23 is significantly larger than the Iskander, with it using likely the same 1.1 meter diameter motor as the Pukkuksong-1. The motor is somewhat lengthened, although having only one stage, compared to the Pukkuksong-1. The motor has a very different structure, compared to the Iskander. The TEL of the KN-23 has more space for the missile, as it lacks the structure immediately after the cab.[4]

The KN-23 is likely to replace older liquid-fueled North Korean SRBMs like the Hwasong-5 and Hwasong-6. Being road-mobile and solid-fueled, it can be moved and fired more rapidly, making it more difficult for an opposing force to locate and target before firing. Once launched, the missile's low apogee, short overall flight time, and ability to conduct a terminal "pull-up" maneuver makes it harder to detect and be intercepted by traditional missile defense systems. Its increased accuracy also reduces the number of missiles that would be needed to destroy a single target.[1][2][3]

The KN-23 is likely to feature some form of foreign involvement such as parts, as when compared to the later developed KN-24, the Korean Central News Agency focuses mainly on the deployment of the missile, with little coverage on its research. While the KN-24 are called 'Juche projectiles', it is never mentioned for the KN-23. The focus on the combat-readiness of the system also suggests that it had been deployed for a while but not tested, like the Hwasong-10.[5] Nonetheless, the KN-23 still bears significant differences from the 9K720 Iskander.[6]

Larger variant[]

In the 14 January 2021 parade, a larger version was seen, with an estimated length of 9.8 metres and likely an extra segment in the motor. This version is also fitted to a longer TEL, with an additional two sections.[7] The nose cone is similar in shape to the KN-24.[8]

SLBM variant[]

On 19 October 2021, a KN-23-type missile was launched from a submerged Sinpo-class submarine as a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The missile reportedly traveled 590 km (370 mi) and reached an altitude of 60 km. In order to launch underwater, it was fitted with a gas generator to cold launch out of the submarine's missile tube into the air before the main motor ignites. Compared to previous North Korean SLBMs like the Pukkuksong-1 and its larger derivatives, the type retains the KN-23's depressed trajectory and manoeuvring flight characteristics to try to evade missile defences. However, since it is based on a missile with a shorter range than the Pukkuksong-series, the submarine would need to get closer to its target in order to launch, leaving it more vulnerable to detection and destruction before it can fire. The development of the KN-23 as an SLBM may be more of a political statement than an effort to create a viable weapon, as the test occurred weeks after South Korea tested their own Hyunmoo 4-4 SLBM, both of which are derived from the same Iskander design base.[9][10]

History[]

North Korea first displayed the KN-23 publicly in a military parade on 8 February 2018. The first flight test was on 4 May 2019 near Wonsan, reaching an apogee of 60 km and a range of 240 km (150 mi), though the footage was apparently manipulated, and the missiles were probably fired from two different vehicles.[4] Five days later, two more missiles were fired from Kusong, one having a range of 420 km (260 mi) and the other of 270 km (170 mi), both with a 50 km apogee. By 17 May, United States Forces Korea had formally designated the weapon as the KN-23. A third flight test was conducted on 25 July 2019, with two missiles again reaching 50 km in altitude but demonstrating greater ranges of 430 km (270 mi) and 690 km before landing in the Sea of Japan. A fourth flight test on 6 August 2019 launched two missiles from the country's west coast, overflying the North Korean capital region at an apogee of 37 km out to 450 km.[1][2]

North Korea stated the test of two road-mobile KN-23s on 27 January 2022 was to confirm the power of an air burst conventional warhead. The launch was on a depressed trajectory of 20 km apogee (previously 37-60 km), delaying radar detection. Taken together, this suggests that the KN-23 is operational.[11]

Larger variant[]

Two of the larger missiles, a variant of the KN-23 that are longer with a more conical nose, were first launched on 25 March 2021. North Korea claimed the new version flew 600 km (370 mi) and is equipped with a 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) warhead, although South Korean and Japanese analysis initially said they only flew 420-450 km while reaching an altitude of 60 km, and such a large warhead weight is almost certainly exaggerated;[12] it's possible that such a large payload claim could be propaganda intended to give the impression that North Korea is keeping pace with their adversary's missile advancements, as the South Korean Hyunmoo-4 has a 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) warhead and the larger KN-23 version was proclaimed to have "the world's largest warhead weight."[13] However, the next month South Korean Defence Minister Suh Wook revealed they had revised their estimate and agreed with the North Korean statement of a 600 km range, saying the discrepancy resulted from blind spots in radar coverage due to the Earth’s curvature.[14] The new weapon would be able to almost completely cover South Korea from its launch site. If it can perform as claimed by North Korea, the weapon would be a powerful bunker buster weapon.[8]

Rail launched missile[]

On 15 September 2021, two missiles were fired from Yangdok that traveled 800 km (500 mi) to a maximum altitude of 60 km. They appeared to be baseline KN-23 versions, however they flew much further than any previous flight of the weapon and went an even greater distance than the larger variant tested earlier in the year. Such excess range could indicate it hadn't previously been tested out to its maximum range or that the design underwent modifications such as a reduced payload or flight profile improvements. Interestingly, the launches were made from a modified railway car rather than the typical road-mobile launcher. The launch railcar used two side-by-side erector/launcher mechanisms like the side-by-side arrangement used in the TEL. The use of a rail-mobile system is unusual for an SRBM, as road-mobile launchers are easier for deploying and hiding relatively small missiles while railway missiles are restricted to the rail network. Adding railway launchers may be an effort to further increase and diversify the country's SRBM missile force, since modifying existing railcars to fire missiles could be a way to supplement a limited number of launch trucks, or possibly to test the concept before applying it to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs); a rail-borne ICBM would have advantages over one carried by a wheeled TEL, as such large liquid-fueled missiles carried in railway cars would be able to move more places and be kept in a higher readiness state.[15][16]

On 14 January 2022, North Korea again tested railway launched KN-23. Two missiles fired from Uiju and traveled 430 km (270 mi). On 15 January, KCNA released photos of the missile launching test.[17]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c KN-23. Missile Threat, Center for Strategic and International Studies.
  2. ^ a b c KN-23. Missile Defense Advocacy.
  3. ^ a b North Korea’s New Short-Range Missiles: A Technical Evaluation. 38 North. 9 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Pukguksong GLBM-2 and GLBM-3". www.b14643.de. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  5. ^ "A Tale of Two Missiles: Analysis of KCNA Reports on North Korea's KN-23 and KN-24 Short-Range Ballistic Missiles". datayo.org. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  6. ^ "Preliminary Analysis: KN-23 SRBM". James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. 2019-06-05. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  7. ^ "Pukguksong GLBM-3". www.b14643.de. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  8. ^ a b "ONN Korean Peninsula Risk Assessment | March 2021". oneearthfuture.org. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  9. ^ North Korea’s “New Type Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile”: More Political Than Military Significance. 38 North. 22 October 2021.
  10. ^ Brief on the 19 October 2021 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile Test of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. One Earth Future. 20 October 2021.
  11. ^ Vann H. Van Diepen (31 January 2022). "North Korea's Fifth and Sixth Rounds of January Missile Launches". 38 North. The Henry L. Stimson Center. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  12. ^ Initial Analysis of North Korea’s March 25 SRBM Launches. 38 North. 30 March 2021.
  13. ^ Missile Deployments on the Korean Peninsula: An Accelerating Arms Race. 38 North. 7 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Seoul says North Korean SRBMs test-launched on 25 March travelled 600 km". Jane's Information Group. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  15. ^ It’s the Launcher, Not the Missile: Initial Evaluation of North Korea’s Rail-Mobile Missile Launches. 38 North. 17 September 2021.
  16. ^ The First DPRK Missile Launch from a Rail-Mobile Launcher. One Earth Future. 17 September 2021.
  17. ^ Shin, Hyonhee. "North Korea tests railway-borne missile in latest launch amid rising tension with U.S." Reuters.

External links[]

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