Taepodong-2

As there is no publicly available imagery of the only Taepodong-2 launch in 2006, all estimates of technical parameters are approximate.{{cite report |url=http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR1268.html |title=Characterizing the North Korean Nuclear Missile Threat |author=Markus Schiller |publisher=RAND Corporation |id=TR-1268-TSF |isbn=978-0-8330-7621-2 |year=2012 |access-date=19 January 2013}}

Based on the size of the missile, the fuel composition, and the likely fuel capacity, it is estimated that a two-stage variant would have a range of around {{Convert|4000|km|abbr=on}} and a three-stage variant would be capable of reaching as far away as {{Convert|4500|km|abbr=on}}, giving it potentially the longest range in the North Korean missile arsenal. The burn time of each stage is a little over 100 seconds, thus allowing the missile to burn for 5 or 6 minutes. Speculative variants of the missile could be capable of a range of approximately {{Convert|9000|km|abbr=on}}. At maximum range, the Taepodong-2 is estimated to have a payload capacity of less than {{Convert|500|kg|abbr=on}}.

According to a former worker in the publications department of one of North Korea's top research centres, who defected to South Korea, North Korea began development of the missile in 1987.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/dprk/td-2.htm|title=Taep'o-dong 2 (TD-2) - North Korea|first=John|last=Pike}}

Very few details concerning the technical specifications of the rocket are public information; even the name "Taepodong-2" is a designation applied by agencies outside North Korea to what is presumed to be a successor to the Taepodong-1. The TD-2 first stage likely uses a liquid propellant (TM-185 fuel and AK-27I oxidizer) driven engine and the second stage likely utilises the Rodong short-range missile.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/NK/Missile/1342.html/|title=North Korea | Countries | NTI|website=www.nti.org}} Depending on the range, the estimated payload capacity could be as high as {{Convert|700|-|1000|kg|abbr=on}} at short range, making it potentially suitable for conventional weapons payloads, NBC payloads as well as Earth orbit satellite delivery. At maximum range, the Taepodong-2 is estimated to have a payload capacity of less than {{Convert|500|kg|abbr=on}}. North Korea has yet to demonstrate the ability to produce a re-entry vehicle, without which North Korea cannot deliver a weapon from an ICBM.

In 2015, aerospace engineer and North Korea missile program analyst John Schilling stated that North Korea did not seem to be planning to create an operational ICBM from the Taepodong-2 technology, and that the Taepodong-2 had been mistakenly identified as an ICBM development, whereas in reality it was a space launch development vehicle.

Taepodong-2's first stage consists of four Rodong motors.

Little is known about the Taepodong-2 design beyond the first stage. Most likely the second stage is one of the Scud-derived North Korean ballistic missiles (either Rodong-1 or Hwasong-6), and the third stage most likely uses Chinese solid-fuel engines.[http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/dprk/td-2-specs.htm Taepodong-2 specs], globalsecurity.org

A Taepodong-2 was test fired on 5 July 2006 from the Tonghae test facility. According to reports, the missile failed in mid-flight about 40 seconds after launch.{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/07/04/korea.missile/index.html | work=CNN | title=CNN.com - U.S. officials: North Korea tests long-range missile - Jul 4, 2006 | access-date=May 24, 2010}}

{{Main|Unha}}

Subsequent launches were intended to launch satellites, using a Taepodong-2 development called the Unha rocket. After two failures in April 2009 and April 2012, its first successful flight, Unha-3, occurred in December 2012 with the launch of the second version of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 satellite.{{cite web |url=http://armscontrolcenter.org/publications/factsheets/fact_sheet_north_korea_nuclear_and_missile_programs/ |title=Fact Sheet: North Korea's Nuclear and Ballistic Missile Programs |publisher=Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation |date=August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020095705/http://armscontrolcenter.org/publications/factsheets/fact_sheet_north_korea_nuclear_and_missile_programs/ |archive-date=20 October 2012}}

This successful flight was repeated on 7 February 2016 (UTC) with the successful launch of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4 using a similar rocket as Unha-3 even though the rocket is officially named as Kwangmyŏngsŏng (not to be confused with the satellite with the same name).

{{Portal|North Korea}}

• Military of North Korea
• North Korea and weapons of mass destruction

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/taepodong-2/ CSIS Missile Threat - Taepodong-2 (Unha-3)]
• [https://www.pbs.org/now/shows/227/north-korea-missile-test.html The Best U.S. Response to North Korea's Failed Missile Test] NOW on PBS, July 7, 2006
• [http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/NK/Missile/1342.html Nuclear Threat Initiative profile]
• [http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/missile/td-2.htm Federation of American Scientists profile]
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/dprk/td-2.htm GlobalSecurity.org Background]
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/dprk/images/taepo-dong-2.jpg Taepodong-2 Design Heritage Imagery @ GlobalSecurity.org]
• [https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-20-north-korea_x.htm USA Today piece from 6-20-2006]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090206214046/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g7YEHnjUfwogDm_y273QSVg344ww NKorea may be set for long-range missile launch: reports], February 2, 2009

{{DPRK missiles}}

Category:Intercontinental ballistic missiles of North Korea