As the DPRK Central Telegraph Agency (KCNA) reported on April 17, 2022, the leader of the DPRK, Comrade Kim Jong-un, was present at the "test firing of a new tactical guided weapon," and it is emphasized that it can be equipped with nuclear weapons. Judging by the widespread official photographic materials, two test launches of a new operational-tactical solid-fuel ballistic missile of North Korean design, outwardly similar to American missiles of this class ATACMS, were carried out. The missiles were launched from a four-container mobile launcher on a wheeled chassis.
Test launch of a new operational-tactical solid-fuel ballistic missile of North Korean design, 04/17/2022 (c) KCNA
The launches were carried out on April 16 on a small island in the Sea of Japan used as a target. According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap News Agency, citing data from the Ministry of Defense of South Korea, the missiles were launched from a test site in the Hamhung area (South Hamgyong province of the DPRK) and both flew 110 km, reaching an altitude of 25 km and a speed of Mach 4.
Earlier, since August 2019, the DPRK has demonstrated launches of a similar ballistic missile "Hwasongpho-11Na", which looks similar to ATACMS and has the Western designation KN-24, the range of which is estimated at 400-450 km. However, the missiles launched now have some visual differences from the previous ones - first of all, the tail rudders are smaller in size, and the rocket itself may also be somewhat smaller in size. Also, the former KN-24 were placed on a two-container mobile launcher on a tracked chassis, a four-container launcher on a wheeled chassis is observed for the first time.
The official message of the KCNA says:
Dear Comrade Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the State Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea observed the test firing of a new tactical guided weapon.
He was accompanied by Comrade Kim Jong-sik, Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
The test launch was observed by the command of the Ministry of National Defense of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the commanders of the troops of the Korean People's Army.
This new system of tactical guided weapons, developed with the special interest of the Central Committee of the Party, is of great importance for a noticeable increase in the firepower of long-range artillery units on the front line and increasing the effectiveness of tactical nuclear weapons. the operation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the diversification of fire missions.
The test firing was successful.
Dear Comrade General Secretary, he warmly congratulated the Central Committee of the Party on behalf of the Central Committee of the Party, highly appreciating the success of the Research Department of Defense Science in achieving the main goal of war containment set by the VIII Congress of the Uri Party.
Outlining the plan of the Central Committee of the Party for the long-term strengthening of the country's defense capability, the respected Comrade General gave him programmatic instructions for further strengthening the country's defense capability and combat nuclear potential.
Test launches of a new operational-tactical solid-fuel ballistic missile of North Korean design, 04/17/2022 (c) KCNA
