Pukguksong-2 | |
---|---|
Type | Medium-range ballistic missile |
Place of origin | North Korea |
Service history | |
In service | 2017 |
Used by | Korean People's Army Strategic Force |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | North Korea |
Produced | 2016 |
Specifications | |
Length | 8.85 m |
Diameter | ~1.4 m |
Warhead | nuclear, conventional[1] |
Engine | Solid fuel rocket |
Propellant | Solid |
Operational range | 1,200 km ~ 2,000 km (est) |
Launch platform | Tracked TEL |
Pukguksong-2 | |
Chosŏn'gŭl | 《북극성-2》형 |
---|---|
Hancha | |
Revised Romanization | Bukgeukseong-i hyeong |
McCune–Reischauer | Pukkŭksŏng-i hyŏng |
The Pukguksong-2 (Korean: 《북극성-2》형; Hancha: 北極星 2型; lit. Polaris Type 2; KN-15[2] under the U.S. naming convention) is a medium-range or intermediate-range ballistic missile under development by North Korea, which, unlike the nation's earlier designs, uses solid fuel.[3] Described as 'nuclear-capable', its first test flight was on 12 February 2017,[4] although two previous launches in October 2016 that were initially thought to be Hwasong-10 were possibly failed launches of the Pukguksong-2 instead.[5] The state-run KCNA news agency said that Kim Jong-un supervised the test, which was described as a success.
Analysts have described the new missile as 'more stable, more efficient, and harder to detect' than North Korea's previous liquid-fuelled designs.[6] In contrast to older, liquid-fueled rockets that take hours to prepare for launch and are easier to detect and counteract by other countries, the Pukguksong-2 is a solid-fuel rocket that can be launched in minutes.[7][3]
The missile is now deployed in northern North Korea near its border with China in missile bases where the Hwasong-7 is deployed.[8]
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