Pukguksong-4

{{External media|float=right|title=Images of the Pukguksong-4|headerimage=|image1=[https://thanhnien.mediacdn.vn/uploaded/hoangnam/2020_10_14/23a4_XRJR.jpg?width=500 At the 10 October 2020 military parade]|width=270px}}

Pukguksong-4 is a two-stage, solid-fueled ballistic missile. As a further development from Pukguksong-3, it is significantly increased in size compared to the predecessor, with an estimated length and diameter of about {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on}} and about {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on}}, respectively.{{Cite web|author=Norbert Brügge|title=Pukguksong-4 and -5|url=http://www.b14643.eu/Spacerockets/Specials/Pukguksong-4and5_GLBM/index.htm|access-date=2021-11-05|website=www.b14643.eu}}{{Cite web|author=Tianran Xu|date=25 July 2022|title=Emerging Capabilities? The Unflown SLBMs of the DPRK|url=https://opennuclear.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/Xu-Emerging%20Capabilities-The%20Unflown%20SLBMs%20of%20the%20DPRK-22%20Jul%202022.pdf|access-date=2025-01-25|website=Open Nuclear Network}} Other sources claimed Pukguksong-4 to be shorter than Pukguksong-3.{{Cite web|date=15 October 2020|author=H. I. Sutton|title=North-Korea-Pukguksong-SLBM|url=http://www.hisutton.com/North-Korea-Pukguksong-SLBM.html|access-date=2025-01-25|website=H I Sutton - Covert Shores}}{{Cite web|title=North Korean nuclear weapons, 2024|url=https://thebulletin.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/rbul_a_2365013_t0001_full.pdf|access-date=2025-01-25|website=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists|language=en}} It is likely designed to be fitted with Sinpo-C class submarine, which was being built in 2020, capable of carrying 3-4 SLBMs.{{cite web|author=Văn Khoa|date=14 October 2020|url=https://thanhnien.vn/giai-ma-ten-lua-moi-cua-trieu-tien-1851002460.htm|title=Giải mã tên lửa mới của Triều Tiên|trans-title=Decoding North Korea's new missile|access-date=2025-01-25|website=Thanh Niên|language=vi}}{{cite web|date=20 October 2020|author=

Muflika Nur Fuaddah |url=https://intisari.grid.id/read/032390389/temui-monster-pukguksong-4-slbm-rudal-bahan-bakar-padat-misterius-baru-keluaran-korea-utara-seperti-apa-kehebatannya|title=Temui 'Monster' Pukguksong-4 SLBM: Rudal Bahan Bakar Padat Misterius Baru Keluaran Korea Utara, Seperti Apa Kehebatannya?|trans-title=Meet the 'Monster' Pukguksong-4 SLBM: North Korea's Mysterious New Solid-Fuel Missile, What's So Amazing About It?|access-date=2025-01-25|website=Intisari|language=id}}{{cite web|author=Mark Episkopos|date=17 October 2020|url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/korea-watch/pukguksong-4-slbm-north-koreas-mysterious-new-solid-fueled-missile-170938/|title=Pukguksong-4 SLBM: North Korea’s Mysterious New Solid-Fueled Missile|access-date=2025-01-26|website=Center for the National Interest}}{{cite web|date=12 October 2020|author1=Joseph Dempsey|author2=Douglas Barrie|url=https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis//2020/10/north-korea-missile-parade|title=What North Korea's latest missile parade tells us, and what it doesn't|access-date=2025-01-25|website=International Institute for Strategic Studies}}

Portions of the engine appears to be filament wound to make the missile lighter and allow for a greater range and payload.{{cite web|author1=Vann H. Van Diepen|author2=Michael Elleman|date=10 October 2020|url=https://www.38north.org/2020/10/vdiepenmelleman101020/|title=North Korea Unveils Two New Strategic Missiles in October 10 Parade|access-date=2025-01-25|website=38 North}}{{cite web|date=12 October 2020|url=https://www.iiss.org/blogs/analysis/2020/10/north-korea-missile-parade|title=What North Korea's latest missile parade tells us, and what it doesn't|access-date=2025-01-25|website=International Institute for Strategic Studies}} Compared to previous missiles, Pukguksong-4 has a heavier payload.{{Cite web|date=25 October 2020|title=Confira os novos armamentos da Coreia Popular (vídeos e fotos)|trans-title=Check out the new weapons of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (videos and photos)|url=https://cepsongunbr.com/2020/10/25/confira-os-novos-armamentos-da-coreia-popular-videos-e-fotos/|access-date=2025-01-25|website=Centro de Estudos da Política Songun – Brasil|language=pt}} The maximum range of Pukguksong-4 is estimated from {{convert|3500|km|abbr=on}} with a {{convert|1300|kg|abbr=on}} payload to {{convert|5400|km|abbr=on}} with a {{convert|650|kg|abbr=on}} payload. It is alleged to be capable of carrying multiple warheads, but it remains to be unconfirmed.{{Cite web|date=4 March 2021|title=S/2021/211|url=https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_2021_211.pdf

|access-date=2025-01-25|website=United Nations Security Council}}

The missile is also claimed to be a silo-based missile and missing the second stage or stage separation mechanism.

Pukguksong-4 made its public debut in a military parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea on 10 October 2020. According to German expert Norbert Brügge, it was seen with a Korean People's Army Ground Force escort. Four Pukguksong-4 missiles were seen, and these missiles were placed on trucks. North Korea introduced Pukguksong-4 missiles as “underwater strategic ballistic missiles”.

According to South Korean Chief of Naval Operations Boo Suk-jong, the name written in these missiles is Pukguksong-4S, not Pukguksong-4A, and the letter "ㅅ" (S) may stand for "sujung" ({{Korean|hangul=수중|lit=underwater|context=north|labels=no}}) or "susang" ({{Korean|hangul=수상|lit=water surface|context=north|labels=no}}).{{cite news|author=Yang Nak-gyu|title=[2020국감]북 SLBM 명칭은 ‘북극성-ㅅ’|url=https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/2020101518412680035|trans-title=[2020 National Inspection] North Korean SLBM name is 'Pukguksong-4ㅅ'|date=2020-10-15|access-date=2021-12-22|website=Asia Economy|language=ko}}

A further development of Pukguksong-4, called Pukguksong-5, was displayed on 14 January 2021 during a military parade. Pukguksong-5, believed to be similar to Pukguksong-4, appears to be larger than its predecessor.{{Cite web|date=15 January 2021|author=William Gallo|title=North Korea Shows Off New Submarine-Launched Missile at Military Parade|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/east-asia-pacific_north-korea-shows-new-submarine-launched-missile-military-parade/6200757.html|access-date=2025-01-25|website=Voice of America}}

There have been no known test for Pukguksong-4 so far.

An alleged flight test was occurred on 19 October 2021. Initially, the missile used for the test-fire was supposed to be some types of SLBMs, including Pukguksong-4.{{cite web|author=Minh Hạnh|date=19 October 2021|url=https://tienphong.vn/trieu-tien-phong-thu-ten-lua-dan-dao-tu-tau-ngam-post1386095.tpo|title=Triều Tiên phóng thử tên lửa đạn đạo từ tàu ngầm?|trans-title=North Korea test-launched ballistic missile from submarine?|access-date=2025-01-25|website=Tiền Phong|language=vi}} Later, the missile used in the 19 October 2021 launch was judged to be Hwasong-11S, an underwater-launched variant of Hwasong-11A (KN-23).{{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=2025-01-25|website=Nuclear Threat Initiative}}

• Pukguksong-3
• Pukguksong-5
• Pukguksong-6

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{{DPRK missiles}}

Category:Submarine-launched ballistic missiles of North Korea

Category:Ballistic missiles of North Korea

Category:Submarine-launched ballistic missiles