KN-23

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

KN-23
TypeShort-range ballistic missile
Service history
Used by North Korea
Production history
Designed2018
Specifications
Mass3,415 kg (7,529 lb)
Length7.5 m (25 ft)
Diameter.95 m (3 ft 1 in)
Warhead500 kg (1,100 lb)
Operational
range
450 km (280 mi)
690 km (430 mi) with reduced payload
Guidance
system
Inertial navigation system (INS), possible satellite navigation
Accuracy100-200 m

Design

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 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]

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]

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). 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]

Sea also

References
  1. KN-23. Missile Threat, Center for Strategic and International Studies.
  2. KN-23. Missile Defense Advocacy.
  3. North Korea’s New Short-Range Missiles: A Technical Evaluation. 38 North. 9 October 2019.
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