| Country: |
North Korea |
| Associated Country: |
Iran, Pakistan |
| Alternate Name: |
Ro-dong 1; No Dong A |
| Class: |
MRBM |
| Basing: |
Road mobile |
| Length: |
16.20 m |
| Diameter: |
1.36 m |
| Launch Weight: |
16500 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 1,200 kg |
| Warhead: |
800 kg; HE, chemical, submunitions, nuclear |
| Propulsion: |
Single-stage liquid |
| Range: |
1300 km |
| Status: |
Operational |
| In Service: |
1998 |
Details
The No Dong 1 is a medium-range, road mobile, liquid propellant, ballistic missile designed to strike population centers. It appears to be a scaled-up version of the 'Scud C' missile. It is highly probable that Chinese scientists worked directly with North Korea to build this missile, though it is also possible that it was designed by Korean scientists using discarded Russian and Chinese missile designs.
The capabilities of the No Dong 1 missile are such that it can only effectively be used against large, soft targets like cities, airports, or harbors. Its range is sufficient to put parts of Japan within range. The accuracy is extremely low for modern missiles and it is useless against a hardened military target. The accuracy is sufficient, however, to be deployed against civilian population centers such as Tokyo and Seoul. The exact use of the payload is unknown, but a medium yield nuclear warhead would maximize the potential damage. It is mobile and easily concealable, making it difficult to destroy prior to launch. The No-dong 1 is likely to be used as a threat of nuclear escalation to prevent intervention by nearby third parties in the case of Communist military aggression against South Korea. It is also likely to be used as a conventional bombardment weapon against Seoul and other South Korean cities.
North Korea has provided little information about their ballistic missile program. Much of the information about the No Dong missiles stems from a comparison with the Ghauri missile of Pakistan and the Shahab 3 of Iran, which all seem to be related missile programs. The No Dong 1 missile has a range of approximately 1,300 km (807 miles). The accuracy of the missile is believed to be 2,000 m CEP when deployed at maximum range. Based on information obtained from its Iranian and Pakistani sister missiles, it is believed to be 16.2 m in length, 1.36 m in diameter, and have a launch weight of 16,500 kg. It is equipped with a 1,200 kg separating warhead that can deploy 800 kg of HE-unitary, chemical, submunitions, biological, or medium-yield-nuclear weapons. It is believed to be launched from a converted Russian Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) vehicle design and from converted North Korean tanks and trucks. The missile is presumed to use an inertial guidance system but may be upgraded with a more accurate Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system. A nuclear warhead development program was started in 1990 which may include warheads for the No Dong missiles. A North Korean statement in 2002 suggested that their scientists had assembled between 2 and 5 nuclear warheads; potentially, some of those were fitted to the No Dong 1 missiles.
It is believed that development of the No Dong 1 began in the mid-1980s, with the first flight testing occurring in May 1990. The missile is believed to have entered regular production in 1994 and active service in 1995. Since 1994, North Korea has likely produced hundreds of No Dong 1 missiles. US estimates have suggested that production would be around 200 by 2006 while one South Korean report suggested as many as 450 operational missiles by September 2006. Some missiles may also have been produced for export. It is believed that the No Dong 1 project was accomplished in conjunction with both Iran and Pakistan. It is reported that Iran received 150 missiles, although both North Korea and Iran deny the transaction. Comparison of the Pakistani Ghauri missile and the Iranian Shahab 3, the missile technology developed for the No Dong 1 was probably given or sold to Pakistan and Iran. Certain components of the Ghauri and Shahab missiles may also have been produced in North Korea. Other countries may also have been involved in the project. Iraq, Eqypt, Syria, and Libya are all believed to have negotiated to obtain the missile, though there are no known exports to these countries.(1)
Footnotes
- Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems, Issue 50, ed. Duncan Lennox, (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2009), 95-97.
Yomiuri Shimbun: New Threat Calls for New Defense Initiative
October 11, 2006 :: Yomiuri Shimbun :: News
The Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun suggests that North Korea’s nuclear test will lead to calls for a new Japanese defense initiative, including increased missile defense and perhaps a preemptive strike capability. It notes that North Korea has deployed about 200 No-dong missiles capable of striking most of the Japanese archipelago, and has tested them as recently as July 2006. Although most experts believe that North Korea remains unable to develop nuclear warheads small enough to be carried by these missiles, the Yomiuri Shimbun points out that the relatively small seismic waves observed after the recent nuclear test may indicate that North Korea is trying to decrease the size its nuclear bombs. The paper suggests that calls for the “early development of missile defense” and “ability to attack missile bases in North Korea preemptively” are likely to gain strength in coming months. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Nuclear Weapons, North Korea, Japan
» Missile details: No Dong 1, NHK-1/2
» Missile system details for: Japanese Ballistic Missile Defense
Iranian Observers Present at Recent North Korean Missile Tests
July 20, 2006 :: Reuters :: News
Iranian observers were present at all of the seven recent missile tests by North Korea, according to the State Department. Speaking before a U.S. Senate hearing, Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill, the chief U.S. negotiator with Pyongyang, confirmed that Iranian representatives had observed all seven tests, which included the launch of a Taep’o-dong 2 long-range ballistic missile, and six shorter-range No-dong and Scud missiles.
In recent weeks, U.S. officials have expressed serious concerns that cash-strapped Pyongyang has been attempting to sell its ballistic missiles and possibly nuclear material. “Our understanding is that North Korea has had a number of commercial relations in the Middle East with respect to missiles,” Hill said. The worry is that Pyongyang will proliferate its technology to rogue nations such as Iran, or transnational Islamic terrorist organizations. Hill and Senator George Allen (R-VA) noted that North Korea’s ties with Iran are of even greater concern now, as the Islamic militant group Hezbollah, backed by Iran, fires its Iranian-made rockets and cruise missiles at Israel. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Iran, North Korea, Proliferation
» Missile details: No Dong 1, Tien Ma 1
New Activity Reported at North Korean Missile Bases
July 11, 2006 :: AFP :: News
U.S. and Japanese satellite photographs have detected new activity at a North Korean missile base, reports the Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun. The photographs showed medium-range No-Dong missiles being set up on launch pads at a base in southeastern North Korea, as well as fuel tanks located near the launch pads. The missiles were later removed, according to the same report. On Sunday, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso also said that there were “visible signs” of missile activity near a North Korean base, presumably the same one. The new activity comes shortly after North Korea test launched as many as twelve missiles last week, including a long-range Taep’o-dong 2. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: North Korea
» Missile details: NHK-1/2, No Dong 1
Activity at North Korean Missile Base
October 27, 2004 :: The Chosun Ilbo (S. Korea) :: News
The South Korean Chosun Ilbo newspaper reports today that American, Japanese, and South Korean governments have observed increased activity at the Chongju missile base some 100km north of Pyongyang. The paper quotes a “high ranking” South Korean government source as saying on October 26 that
Beginning two to three days ago, North Korea has been showing moves that appear to be an attempt to test fire No Dong I and Scud Missiles, including the movement of a Scud missile mobile launcher from a missile base in Chongju, Northern Pyongan Province.
East Asia Intel reports that U.S. intelligence officials speculate that North Korea could attempt a launch so as to influence the approaching U.S. presidential election.
The Russian Itar Tass news agency quickly responded to the report with another, well-placed source in the North Korean government, who speculated that missile activity did not likely indicate any missile preparations, but was probably merely designed to be a response to the multi-country naval exercise currently taking place near Japan. The Russian paper quotes the North Korean as noting that, “If the Korean People’s Democratic Republic really intended to launch a missile, it would launch an anti-ship missile as usual from a base located on the Eastern coast."
North Korea’s Scuds and No Dongs are both believed to be derived from Russian missiles.
Similar reports of activity at North Korean missile bases also occurred at this time last month. (Link)
» Sep. 26: Increased activity at North Korean bases
» More stories on: North Korea
» Missile details: No Dong 1, No Dong 2, Scud B variant, Scud C variant
North Korea Extending Range of No-Dong Missile
June 9, 2004 :: Middle East Newsline :: News
North Korea has extended the range of its No-Dong ballistic missiles to 1,500km, according to a report by Middle East Newswire, citing the Japanese business daily Nikkei Shimbun and other sources. The two versions of the No-Dong missiles have been exported to various middle eastern countries, including Iran, which is believed to have based its Shahab missile family.
The report is not, however, altogether news, given that the No-Dong 2 was already believed to have a range of 1,500km. Since the article does not specify, it may refer to difference between the No-Dong 1 and the No-Dong 2. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: North Korea
» Missile details: No Dong 1, No Dong 2
North Korea Missile Talks with Iran
October 16, 2003 :: Geostrategy-Direct :: News
A “high-ranking official” from North Korea recently visited Iran to solicit interest in a version of the North Korean No-Dong missiles, according to Japan’s Sankei Shimbun. The No-Dongs have a range of about 650km. North Korea reportedly received 10 million dollars from Iraq for No-Dongs which were never delivered. (subscription required) (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Technology
» Missile details: NHK-1/2, No Dong 1
