Pukguksong-2

{{Short description|North Korean medium-range ballistic missile}}

{{Infobox weapon

| is_missile = yes

| name = Pukguksong-2

| origin = North Korea

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| type = Medium-range ballistic missile

| variants =

| used_by = Korean People's Army Strategic Force

| manufacturer = North Korea

| unit_cost =

| production_date = 2016

| service = 2017-present

| engine = Solid-fueled engine

| engine_power =

| weight =

| length = About {{cvt|9.3|m|ft|abbr=on}}{{Cite web|date=5 September 2017|title=S/2017/742|url=https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n17/246/50/pdf/n1724650.pdf|access-date=2025-01-22|website=United Nations Security Council}}

| height =

| diameter = About {{cvt|1.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| wingspan =

| speed =

| vehicle_range = {{convert|1200-3000|km|abbr=on}} (estimated){{cite web | url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/44390| title=North Korea’s Ballistic Missile with 1,200–3,000 km Range Spotted in Russia|website=Kyiv Post|access-date=2025-01-15| date=24 December 2024}}

| ceiling =

| altitude =

| filling = nuclear, conventional{{cite web | url=https://news.usni.org/2023/01/26/report-to-congress-on-north-koreas-nuclear-weapons-and-missile-programs | title=Report to Congress on North Korea's Nuclear Weapons and Missile Programs | date=26 January 2023|website=USNI News|access-date=2025-02-09 }}

| filling_weight =

| guidance = Inertial navigation system{{cite web|author=Mai Hương | url=https://www.qdnd.vn/quan-su-the-gioi/tin-tuc/quan-su-the-gioi-hom-nay-23-12-ten-lua-dan-dao-pukguksong-2-cua-trieu-tien-co-gi-dac-biet-808344| title=Quân sự thế giới hôm nay (23-12): Tên lửa đạn đạo Pukguksong-2 của Triều Tiên có gì đặc biệt?|trans-title=World military today (23 December): What is special about North Korea's Pukguksong-2 ballistic missile?|website=People's Army Newspaper|access-date=2025-01-15| date=23 December 2024|lang=vi}}

| detonation =

| launch_platform = Tracked TEL

}}

{{Infobox Korean name

|context=north

|hangul=《북극성-2》형

|hanja={{linktext|北極星|二|形}}

|rr=Bukgeukseong-i hyeong

|mr=Pukkŭksŏng-i hyŏng

}}

The Pukguksong-2 ({{Korean|hangul=《북극성-2》형 |hanja=北極星 2型|lit=Polaris Type 2|context=north}}; KN-15{{cite web | last=Sang-Hun | first=Choe | title=North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile a Day Before U.S.-China Summit | website=The New York Times | date=2017-04-04 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/world/asia/north-korea-ballistic-missile-test-xi-trump.html | accessdate=2017-04-23}} under the U.S. naming convention) is a North Korean medium-range or intermediate-range ballistic missile. Described as 'nuclear-capable', its first test flight was on 12 February 2017,{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-korea-says-test-of-new-nuclearcapable-pukguksong2-missile-a-success-20170213-gubcd5.html |title=North Korea says test of new nuclear-capable Pukguksong-2 missile a success |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date= 13 February 2017|accessdate=2025-02-09}} although two previous launches in October 2016 that were initially thought to be Hwasong-10 were possibly failed launches of the Pukguksong-2 instead.{{Cite web|title=Pukguksong-2 GLBM|url=http://www.b14643.eu/Spacerockets/Specials/Pukguksong-2_GLBM/index.htm|access-date=2025-02-09|website=www.b14643.eu}} The state-run KCNA news agency said that Kim Jong Un supervised the test, which was described as a success.

Analysts have described Pukguksong-2 as 'more stable, more efficient, and harder to detect' than North Korea's earlier designs.{{cite news|author=Julian Ryall, Tokyo |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/13/north-koreas-game-changing-new-missile-stable-efficient-and/ |title=North Korea's 'game changing' new missile is more stable, more efficient -and harder to detect |newspaper=The Telegraph |date= 13 February 2017|accessdate=2017-02-13}} The missile is a solid-fuel rocket and may be launched in minutes. Previous designs are liquid fuelled are more vulnerable to counterattack as their launch preparations take hours.{{cite news |title= North Korea Claims Progress on Long-Range Goal With Missile Test|first1= Sang-hun|last1= Chose |first2=David E. |last2= Sanger|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/world/asia/north-korea-missile-launch-success.html |newspaper= The New York Times |location=USA |date=Feb 13, 2017 |accessdate= February 25, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218074214/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/world/asia/north-korea-missile-launch-success.html |archivedate= February 18, 2017 |url-status=live}}

In 2019, the Pukguksong-2 was reported to be deployed in North Korea near the Chinese border at the same bases as the Hwasong-7.{{Cite web|url=https://undocs.org/en/S/2019/691 |title=S/2019/691 |website=United Nations Security Council|page=135/142 |date=30 August 2019|access-date=2025-02-09}}

Design

{{External media|float=right|title=Images of the Pukguksong-2|headerimage=|image1=[https://thanhnien.mediacdn.vn/zoom/686_429/Uploaded/baovinh/2017_05_14/pukguksong-2-afp_PKFR.jpg Tracked TEL]|image2=[https://vcdn1-vnexpress.vnecdn.net/2017/05/22/6-6809-1495422950.jpg?w=460&h=0&q=100&dpr=2&fit=crop&s=_yDwWsSW2FqhkpbTJvICrQ Launch of the missile]|width=250px}}

The Pukguksong-2 is an enlarged, two stage development of the Pukguksong-1, a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The missile is canister launched from its enclosed transport container. It uses a 'cold-launching' system, which starts using compressed gas, followed by the engine igniting in mid-flight.{{cite web|author=Lee Sung-eun|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3029819|title=North says its missile was 'absolute success'-INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily|publisher=Korea JoongAng Daily|date= 13 February 2017|accessdate=2017-02-13}} The container is a smooth cylinder inside, without rails, and on launch a series of slipper blocks could be seen to fall away from the missile. These act as bearings while the missile is projected through the close-fitting tube, a system first seen with the US Peacekeeper. A series of grid fins are deployed at the base of the missile to provide aerodynamic stability during flight. The transporter erector launcher (TEL) is a new design, conceptually similar to the Russian 2P19 TEL of the R-17M Elbrus SS-1 Scud-B; fully tracked and claimed to be of indigenous North Korean manufacture, rather than previous Chinese wheeled launchers, derivatives of the ubiquitous MAZ-543 design.{{Cite news|title=North Korea missile test: What's changed?|newspaper=BBC News Online|date=13 February 2017|author1=Andrea Berger|author2=Joshua Pollack|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-38958321|access-date=2025-02-09}}

On its first test flight it flew {{convert|500|km|abbr=in}} on a deliberately inefficient trajectory.{{cite web | url= http://38north.org/2017/02/jschilling021317/ |title=The Pukguksong-2: A Higher Degree of Mobility, Survivability and Responsiveness |first=John |last= Schilling| date= February 13, 2017 | publisher= 38 North, U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies | accessdate= February 4, 2017 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20170223005601/http://38north.org/2017/02/jschilling021317/ | archivedate= February 23, 2017 |url-status=live}}Its operational range is typically estimated at between {{convert|1200-1300|km|abbr=in}} and is probably intended to replace medium-range missiles like the Hwasong-7 (Rodong-1) and Hwasong-9 (Scud-ER), potentially by the early 2020s depending on rate of manufacture. One unusual feature is the ability of the missile to take images of the ground from near its apogee and transmit them to a receiving station. Continuing to gather imaging data as it enters the atmosphere may be useful for precisely guiding a manoeuvring reentry vehicle, although the Pukguksong-2 has not yet been tested with one.{{cite web|author=John Schilling|url=https://www.38north.org/2017/05/jschilling052417/|title=The Pukguksong-2 Approaches Initial Operational Capability|publisher=38 North|date= 2017-05-24|accessdate=2025-02-09}}

List of tests

class="wikitable"
scope="col" \| Attempt	scope="col" \| Date	scope="col" \| Location	scope="col" \| Pre-launch announcement / detection	scope="col" \| Outcome	scope="col" \| Additional notes
scope="row" \| 1 \| 11 February 2017, about 8:00am Pyongyang Standard Time{{cite news\|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-first-since-trump-elected-in-us/2017/02/11/42d6cb57-d187-4b2a-bafb-6834c97799b0_story.html\|title=North Korea fires ballistic missile, first since Trump elected in U.S.\|last1=Fifield\|first1=Anna\|date=February 11, 2017\|access-date=February 11, 2020\|newspaper=The Washington Post}} \| {{coord\|40.011572423\|125.218110711}}, Iha-ri Vehicle Testing and Driver Training Facility, Kusong{{cite web\|url=https://www.38north.org/2017/02/jbermudez021717/\|title=Finding the Real Site for the Pukguksong-2 Launch\|publisher=38 North\|author=Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.\|accessdate=2023-04-28\|date=2017-02-17}} \| {{CNone\|None}} \| {{Success}} \| The report stated that United States and South Korea military were initially trying to determine whether the missile was a Hwasong-7 or a modified Hwasong-10 missile, with some analysis by Jeffrey Lewis of the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies suggested that this test should be treated as North Korean's test of an ICBM first stage. However, North Korea announced less than a day later that this is a successful land-based variant, named Pukguksong-2, a new Korean's nuclear capable strategic weapon that uses high-angle trajectory with due consideration of the safety of neighboring countries. KCNA also announced that this test is the upgraded, extended-range version of its submarine-launched ballistic missile (see above), which also uses a solid fuel engine, that this allows them to verify a "feature of evading interception," and that this represents "the mobility and operation of the new type missile launching truck". Military source from South Korea note that this missile reached an altitude of {{cvt\|550\|km\|abbr=on}} and flew a distance of about {{cvt\|500\|km\|abbr=on}}, landing off its east coast, towards Japan. Kim Jong Un recently announced during his New Year's speech that his country is in the final stages of testing its ICBM.{{cite web\|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kim-jong-un-hints-north-korea-test-intercontinental-ballistic-missle/\|title= Kim Jong Un hints at North Korea test of intercontinental ballistic missile\|publisher=CBS News\|date= 2017-01-01\|accessdate=2025-02-09}} This launch occurred during a state visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the golf resort of President Trump in Florida and also the first missile test under Trump's administration. The two heads of state presented a united front in response. At the White House on Friday, Shinzo Abe called the test "absolutely intolerable" and said that Trump "assured me the United States will always stand with Japan 100 percent." Donald Trump did not give a mention of South Korea at all.
scope="row" \| 2 \| 21 May 2017, about 4:29pm Pyongyang Standard Time \| Lake Yonpung, Anju City{{cite news\|url=http://www.spnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=733\|title=북극성 2형 2차 발사 공개 정보 분석, 한국국방안보포럼(KODEF)\|trans-title=Analysis of the public information on the second launch of the Pukguksong-2 by the Korea Defense Forum (KODEF)\|date=2017-05-24\|access-date=2021-12-12\|language=ko\|website=SP News\|quote=Location: Lake Yonpung 39.6180283, 125.8035851}} \| {{CNone\|None}} \| {{Success}} \| On 21 May 2017, another successful missile test occurred, following the same lofted trajectory, with identical range and apogee.{{Cite web\|title=The CNS North Korea Missile Test Database\|url=https://www.nti.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/north_korea_missile_test_database.xlsx\|access-date=2025-01-22\|website=Nuclear Threat Initiative}} Following the test, North Korea reported that it was the final test launch to verify all technical characteristics performed "perfect" and initial operating capability and mass-production would soon proceed.{{cite web\|last1=Ji\|first1=Dagyum\|title=N. Korea announces Pukguksong-2 launch, says missile can now be "mass-produced"\|url=https://www.nknews.org/2017/05/n-korea-announces-pukguksong-2-launch-says-missile-can-now-be-mass-produced/\|website=NK News\|date=21 May 2017\|accessdate=22 May 2017}} The launch site was geolocated to {{Coord\|39.6180283\|125.8035851\|type:landmark_region:KP\|display=inline}}.

class="wikitable"

scope="col" | Attempt

scope="col" | Date

scope="col" | Location

scope="col" | Pre-launch announcement / detection

scope="col" | Outcome

scope="col" | Additional notes

scope="row" | 1

| 11 February 2017, about 8:00am Pyongyang Standard Time{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-first-since-trump-elected-in-us/2017/02/11/42d6cb57-d187-4b2a-bafb-6834c97799b0_story.html|title=North Korea fires ballistic missile, first since Trump elected in U.S.|last1=Fifield|first1=Anna|date=February 11, 2017|access-date=February 11, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

| {{coord|40.011572423|125.218110711}}, Iha-ri Vehicle Testing and Driver Training Facility, Kusong{{cite web|url=https://www.38north.org/2017/02/jbermudez021717/|title=Finding the Real Site for the Pukguksong-2 Launch|publisher=38 North|author=Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.|accessdate=2023-04-28|date=2017-02-17}}

| {{CNone|None}}

| {{Success}}

| The report stated that United States and South Korea military were initially trying to determine whether the missile was a Hwasong-7 or a modified Hwasong-10 missile, with some analysis by Jeffrey Lewis of the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies suggested that this test should be treated as North Korean's test of an ICBM first stage.

However, North Korea announced less than a day later that this is a successful land-based variant, named Pukguksong-2, a new Korean's nuclear capable strategic weapon that uses high-angle trajectory with due consideration of the safety of neighboring countries.

KCNA also announced that this test is the upgraded, extended-range version of its submarine-launched ballistic missile (see above), which also uses a solid fuel engine, that this allows them to verify a "feature of evading interception," and that this represents "the mobility and operation of the new type missile launching truck".

Military source from South Korea note that this missile reached an altitude of {{cvt|550|km|abbr=on}} and flew a distance of about {{cvt|500|km|abbr=on}}, landing off its east coast, towards Japan.

Kim Jong Un recently announced during his New Year's speech that his country is in the final stages of testing its ICBM.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kim-jong-un-hints-north-korea-test-intercontinental-ballistic-missle/|title= Kim Jong Un hints at North Korea test of intercontinental ballistic missile|publisher=CBS News|date= 2017-01-01|accessdate=2025-02-09}}

This launch occurred during a state visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the golf resort of President Trump in Florida and also the first missile test under Trump's administration. The two heads of state presented a united front in response. At the White House on Friday, Shinzo Abe called the test "absolutely intolerable" and said that Trump "assured me the United States will always stand with Japan 100 percent." Donald Trump did not give a mention of South Korea at all.

scope="row" | 2

| 21 May 2017, about 4:29pm Pyongyang Standard Time

| Lake Yonpung, Anju City{{cite news|url=http://www.spnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=733|title=북극성 2형 2차 발사 공개 정보 분석, 한국국방안보포럼(KODEF)|trans-title=Analysis of the public information on the second launch of the Pukguksong-2 by the Korea Defense Forum (KODEF)|date=2017-05-24|access-date=2021-12-12|language=ko|website=SP News|quote=Location: Lake Yonpung 39.6180283, 125.8035851}}

| {{CNone|None}}

| {{Success}}

| On 21 May 2017, another successful missile test occurred, following the same lofted trajectory, with identical range and apogee.{{Cite web|title=The CNS North Korea Missile Test Database|url=https://www.nti.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/north_korea_missile_test_database.xlsx|access-date=2025-01-22|website=Nuclear Threat Initiative}} Following the test, North Korea reported that it was the final test launch to verify all technical characteristics performed "perfect" and initial operating capability and mass-production would soon proceed.{{cite web|last1=Ji|first1=Dagyum|title=N. Korea announces Pukguksong-2 launch, says missile can now be "mass-produced"|url=https://www.nknews.org/2017/05/n-korea-announces-pukguksong-2-launch-says-missile-can-now-be-mass-produced/|website=NK News|date=21 May 2017|accessdate=22 May 2017}} The launch site was geolocated to {{Coord|39.6180283|125.8035851|type:landmark_region:KP|display=inline}}.

References

External links

[https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/pukkuksong-2/ CSIS Missile Threat - Pukguksong-2]

Category:Ballistic missiles of North Korea

Category:Medium-range ballistic missiles of North Korea

Category:Military equipment introduced in the 2010s

Pukguksong-2

Design

List of tests

See also

References

External links