| Country: |
North Korea |
| Associated Country: |
People's Republic of China |
| Alternate Name: |
Moksong 2, Pekdosan 2 |
| Class: |
ICBM |
| Basing: |
Surface based |
| Length: |
34.0 m |
| Diameter: |
2.2 m |
| Launch Weight: |
66000 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead |
| Warhead: |
750 kg; Nuclear, biological, chemical, HE |
| Propulsion: |
2-stage liquid, possible third |
| Range: |
6000-9000 km |
| Status: |
Development |
Details
The Taep’o Dong 2 is an intercontinental-range, road-mobile, liquid-propellant ballistic missile. It is currently North Korea’s only true ICBM. Today, this missile may represent the single greatest nuclear threat to the United States. While the missile has very limited accuracy, it is thought to be targeted at major US population centers in both Alaska and Hawaii, and perhaps even as far as California.
The Taep’o Dong 2 missile's primary use is as a weapon of international blackmail. Easily equipped with a nuclear weapon, it is the first direct threat to the United States from North Korea. It will likely be used as a threat of nuclear escalation in response to any American intervention during a second Korean war. Just as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Lt. Gen. Xiong Guang Kai stated that Americans “care more about Los Angeles than they do Tai Pei,” North Korea will likely rely on American unwillingness to lose cities rather than withdraw from Korea. In addition, it will likely be used to blackmail wealthier countries for energy and food, similar to how the North Korean nuclear program has been used. It could also be a major income generator as an item for export.
In 2003, following talks with the US, North Korea agreed to stop testing until the end of 2003. In May 2006 North Korea rebuilt the Musudan-ri test site after a fire. In July 2006 the Taep'o Dong 2 was tested; the test was a failure. Initial production may have started in 2005. A South Korean report in 2006 stated that 20 missiles were to be built, but the current production and deployment status is unknown.
The missile is thought to have two liquid-propellant stages and a third solid-propellant stage. The PRC’s DF-3 (described separately) is believed to be the basis for the first stage, though the first stage may also be based upon the No Dong 2. The second stage is thought to be similar to either the No Dong 2 or No Dong 1 missiles. The third stage is believed to be quite small and use solid propellants.
Various reports have suggested that the missile is either 34.0 or 27.5 m in length, has a diameter between 1.8 and 2.2m, and a launch weight between 53,000 and 66,000 kg. Its payload is equipped with a single warhead. Its range is thought to be at least 6,000 km (3,728 miles) and Russian reports estimate it to be closer to 9,000 km (5,592 miles). The accuracy is unknown, but is probably extremely poor.
The development of the Taep’o Dong 2 is estimated to have begun at the same time as the Taep’o Dong 1, in 1990. Pakistan and Iran have been receiving technical assistance on their missile projects that are derivatives of the Taep’o Dong 2 project. Iran’s Shahab-5/6, if in development, is believed to owe much to this North Korean design. It was reported that in 2004, North Korea put the missile up for sale to a number of Middle Eastern countries, Iran being one of them.(1)
The Taep'o Dong 2 was first tested in July 2006; this first test was a failure. The second test took place in April 2009 and the missile travelled about 3200 km before landing in the Pacific Ocean east of Japan. North Korean authorities declared the missile test an SLV test, thus suggesting that the test did not represent a provocative act. Regardless of the nature of the test, it certainly means that North Korea has the ability to build a new generation of ballistic missiles. Because the test only flew 3200 km, however, it is possible that the Taep'o Dong is not capable of the supposed range of 6000 km.(2)
Footnotes
- Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems, Issue 50, ed. Duncan Lennox, (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2009), 102-103.
- "North Korea Launches Taepo-Dong II," from the MissileThreat News Archive.
North Korean Taepo-Dong II Now For Sale
May 5, 2004 :: Worldtribune.com :: News
Quoting “western intelligence sources,” worldtribune.com reports that North Korea has begun to offer its long-range Taepo-Dong II for sale to several middle eastern nations.
The news comes just days after other reports that North Korea is building new missile bases, developing new missiles, has “at least” eight nuclear weapons, and, ironically enough, that Kim Jong Il pledged to the United States that he would not transfer ballistic missiles to terrorists. The sale of missiles is, however, North Korea’s primary source of revenue.
Likely buyers include another rogue state and state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, which has apparently been negotiating a purchase with Pyongyang. Worldtribune’s source says that 2003 negotiations for the purchase of the Taepo-Dong by Syria and Libya apparently were not pursued, but that Iran was considering the Taepo-Dong as a possible basis for the its ICBM program, the Shahab-5, the development of the engines for which China is also named as an aid.
Depending on the version of the Taepo-Dong II, the intercontinental missile has a range of 6000km or more. The three stage version of the missile has a range capable of striking the continental United States. (Article, Link)
» Dec. 14, 1999: North Korea Readies Taepo-Dong I missiles for sale to Iran
» Dec. 7, 1999: U.S. expects Iran will be North Korea’s first ICBM customer
» May 5, 2004: Middle East Newswire on Taepo Dong Market
» May 6, 2004: LA Times: North Korea “may” have missile to reach Guam
» More stories on: China, North Korea, Proliferation
» Missile details: Shahab 3, Taep'o Dong 2
Iskander Upgrades Designed to Outpace Patriot
October 14, 2003 :: Middle East Newsline :: News
One of Russia’s export ballistic missiles, the Iskander-E, which it has marketed to countries such as Syria and Iran, will soon be undergoing upgrades, although still in development. These upgrades are meant to permit the missile to overcome the US PAC-3 Patriot defensive system. The Iskander, also known as the SS-26, carries a single warhead of 480 to 700kg, and has a range of 280km. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Proliferation, Russia
» Missile details: Taep'o Dong 2
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
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