Pukguksong-5
{{lead too short|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Pukguksong-5
| image =
| origin = North Korea
| type = Submarine-launched ballistic missile
| is_missile = yes
| length = About {{convert|10.5-11.6|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| width = About {{convert|1.8-2.1|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| propellant = solid fuel
| launch_platform = submersible barge, submarine (planned)
| vehicle_range = About {{convert|3000-5000|km|abbr=on}} (estimated)
| manufacturer= North Korea
| design_date = 2021
| number = 5 prototypes
| service =
| filling = Nuclear warhead
MIRV-capable (unconfirmed)
}}
The Pukguksong-5{{efn|Also known as Pukguksong-5S ({{Korean|hangul=북극성-5ㅅ|lit=Polaris 5S|context=north|labels=no}}) and Pukguksong-5ㅅ (mixing Latin and Korean characters).{{cite web|date=7 September 2021|author=Hòa Bình|url=https://www.baogiaothong.vn/my-han-tuyen-bo-dang-theo-doi-chat-cuoc-duyet-binh-cua-quan-doi-trieu-tien-192523854.htm|title=Mỹ-Hàn tuyên bố đang theo dõi chặt cuộc duyệt binh của quân đội Triều Tiên|trans-title=US and South Korea say they are closely monitoring North Korea's military parade|access-date=2025-01-25|website=Báo Giao Thông|lang=vi}}{{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}}}} ({{Korean|hangul=북극성-5|lit=Polaris 5|context=north}}) is a North Korean two-stage, solid-fueled submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
Description
{{External media|float=right|title=Images of the Pukguksong-5|headerimage=|image1=[https://sohanews.sohacdn.com/thumb_w/640/160588918557773824/2021/1/19/photo1611021983969-16110219841171520954996.jpg At the 14 January 2021 military parade]|width=270px}}
Pukguksong-5 is a two-stage, solid-fueled ballistic missile. It is significantly increased in size compared to the Pukguksong-4,{{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}} with an estimated length and diameter of about 11.6 m and about 2.1 m, respectively. Another source give an estimated length and diameter of 10.5 m and 1.8 m. Compared with Pukguksong-3 and Pukguksong-4, Pukguksong-5 have a pointed, elongated nose cone.{{Cite web|date=15 January 2021|author=Michael Elleman|title=North Korea's Newest Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile, Same as the Old One|url=https://www.38north.org/2021/01/north-koreas-newest-submarine-launched-ballistic-missile-same-as-the-old-one/|access-date=2025-01-25|website=38 North}}{{Cite web|date=18 January 2021|author=Vũ Anh|title=Tên lửa có thể giúp tàu ngầm Triều Tiên đe dọa đảo Guam|trans-title=Missiles could help North Korean submarines threaten Guam|url=https://vnexpress.net/ten-lua-co-the-giup-tau-ngam-trieu-tien-de-doa-dao-guam-4222521.html|access-date=2025-01-25|website=VnExpress|lang=vi}}
German expert Norbert Brügge claimed the Pukguksong-5 to be a silo-based missile.{{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}}
Pukguksong-5 is alleged to have greater range and heavier payload. The operational range of Pukguksong-5 is assumed to be from about {{convert|3000|km|abbr=on}} to {{convert|4000-5000|km|abbr=on}},{{cite web|author=Kim Jong-won|date=27 April 2022|url=https://www.newspim.com/news/view/20220427000672|title=[분석] "북한 신형 SLBM, 미국 가까이 안 가고도 미 본토 핵공격"
|trans-title=[Analysis] "North Korea's new SLBM can strike the US mainland without going near the US"|website=NewsPim|access-date=2025-02-02|language=ko|quote=북극성-5ㅅ형은 4000~5000km (The range of Pukguksong-5S is 4,000-5,000km)}} allowing North Korea submarines to threaten Guam while operating in the Sea of Japan, not far from the North Korean coast. The range is claimed to be a result of the backwardness in design, manufacturing technology and solid propellants. It is possible that Pukguksong-5 is capable of carrying multiple warheads.{{Cite web|title=North Korean nuclear forces (2021)|url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRIYB22c10sIX.pdf|access-date=2025-01-25|website=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute}}
The Pukguksong-5's first stage is possibly identical to Pukguksong-3 and Pukguksong-4.{{Cite web|date=15 January 2021|author=H. I. Sutton|title=New North Korean Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile|url=http://www.hisutton.com/North-Korean-Navy-SLBM-Pukguksong-5.html|access-date=2025-01-25|website=H I Sutton - Covert Shores}}
History
Pukguksong-5 made its public debut in a military parade on 14 January 2021. Four Pukguksong-5 missiles were placed on 6-axle wheeled semi-trailers. At the time of debut, North Korea claimed Pukguksong-5 to be "the world's most powerful weapon”.{{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}} The appearance of yet another untested missile likely indicates North Korea is still in the process of finalizing on a specific SLBM design.{{Cite web|last=Dominguez|first=Gabriel|date=15 January 2021|title=North Korea unveils Pukguksong-5 SLBM at military parade|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/north-korea-unveils-pukguksong-5-slbm-at-military-parade|access-date=|website=Jane's Information Group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328170643/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/north-korea-unveils-pukguksong-5-slbm-at-military-parade|archive-date=28 March 2021|url-status=live}} These missiles were assessed to be non-operational mock-ups.{{Cite web|date=8 September 2021|title=S/2021/777|url=https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/S_2021_777_E.pdf|access-date=2025-01-26|website=United Nations Security Council}}
North Korea displayed Pukguksong-5 along with Pukguksong-1 and then-unnamed Hwasong-11S during "Self-Defence 2021" military exhibition, held in October 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-18|author=Tianran Xu|title=Brief on the Defence Development Exhibition of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea|url=https://opennuclear.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/Xu-Brief%20on%20the%20Defence%20Development%20Exhibition%20of%20the%20Democratic%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20Korea-18%20Oct%202021%20%281%29.pdf
|access-date=2025-01-25|website=Open Nuclear Network}}
According to Kim Dong-yup, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, a solid-fueled engine, which was tested in December 2022 and produced 140 tons of thrust, could be the engine of Pukguksong-5.{{Cite web|author=Park Eun-Kyung|date=16 December 2022|title=북한의 ‘고출력 고체 로켓엔진’ 개발의 꿈···단거리서 중장거리로|trans-title=North Korea's dream of developing a 'high-power solid rocket engine'... From short-range to medium- and long-range|url=https://www.khan.co.kr/article/202212161636001|access-date=2025-01-26|website=Kyunghyang Shinmun|language=ko}}
It is possible that Pukguksong-5 remains just a paper project.
List of tests
There have been no known test for Pukguksong-5 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-5.{{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|lang=vi}}{{cite web|author=Daehan Lee|date=19 October 2021|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/10/north-korea-fires-possible-pukguksong-ballistic-missile/|title=North Korea Fires Possible Pukguksong-5ㅅ SLBM|access-date=2025-01-25|website=Naval News}} 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}}
Notes
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