Taepodong-2

For the 2006 North Korean missile test, see 2006 North Korean missile test.

Taepodong-2
Type	Ballistic missile, Space booster
Service history
In service	Tested July 5, 2006 (failed)
Production history
Manufacturer	North Korea
Specifications
Weight	~79,189 kg
Length	~35.8 m
Diameter	2.0–2.2 m
Warhead	Conventional Satellite Nuclear? (speculated)
Engine	Liquid
Operational range	4,000 km–6,000 km (est.)[1]
Speed	6,900–8000 m/s 7,825–7,925 (orbital launch). 9,500–10,500 dv total with losses
Guidance system	Inertial
Launch platform	Launch Pad

Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl	대포동 2호
Hancha	大浦洞 2號
McCune–Reischauer	Taep'odong 2ho
Revised Romanization	Daepodong 2ho

The Taepodong-2 (TD-2, also spelled as Taep'o-dong 2)^[2] (Korean: 대포동 2호) is a designation used to indicate a North Korean two or three-stage ballistic missile^[3] design that is the successor to the Taepodong-1.

Details

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 4,000 km (2,500 statute miles) and a three stage variant would be capable of reaching as far as 4,500 km (2,800 statute miles), giving it potentially the longest range in the North Korean missile arsenal.^[2] 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 9,000 km (5,600 statute miles).^[4] At maximum range, the Taepodong-2 is estimated to have a payload capacity of less than 500 kg (~1,100 lbs).^[2]

According to Kim il Son, a former worker in the publications department of one of North Korea's top research centres, North Korea began development of the missile in 1987.^[5]

Very few details concerning the technical specifications of the rocket are in the public domain; even the name "Taepodong-2" is a designation applied by agencies outside of 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 Nodong short-range missile.^[6] Depending on the range, the estimated payload capacity could be as high as 700–1,000 kg (~1,550 - 2,200 lbs) 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 500 kg (~1,100 lbs).^[2] North Korea has yet to demonstrate the ability to produce a re-entry vehicle that works. It is doubtful that a TD-2 could be used to accurately deliver a weapons payload in the near future as the accuracy of the claims of its power cannot be verified.

Structure

First stage

Taepodong-2's first stage is a Musudan-1 "Mobile" 4,000 km MRBM, based on the Soviet R-27 Zyb. North Korea developed the Musudan-1 with the help of former Russian engineers of the VP Makeyev Design Bureau. On April 5, 2009, a Taepodong-2 missile with a satellite on board, was launched from the Musudan-ri facility. The payload did not reach orbit, however, the first stage worked without any problems and fell in the ocean as planned.

Around 2007 North Korea claims to have deployed 12 to 18 of this missile and showed them in military parades.^[7] Iran acquired 18 Musudan-1 missiles from the DPRK in 2005.^[8]

The original R-27 is a liquid fuel missile with a medium range and a single warhead (although later versions had up to three warheads). It was submarine-launched, as opposed to the current North Korean version, which is land-mobile and hence has improved survivability.

Second and third stages

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 probably uses Chinese solid-fuel motors.^[9]

Launches

Missile test in 2006

See also: 2006 North Korean missile test

U.S. intelligence reports revealed that North Korea was possibly planning to conduct a test flight of this missile. It was unknown when it would fly or indeed what the purpose of the flight would be, the two most likely explanations being a test flight or an attempted satellite delivery. The United States and Japan stated that they might consider sanctions against North Korea if it decided to go forward with the test. Both countries stated that the test or launch of a TD-2 missile by North Korea would be in violation of the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, an agreement between Kim Jong Il and Junichiro Koizumi in which North Korea agreed not to test long-range missiles.

A Taepodong-2 missile was test fired on July 5, 2006 from the Musudan-ri Missile Test Facility.^[10][11] According to preliminary reports, the missile failed in mid-flight 35–40 seconds after launch.^[12] North Korea also launched at least two short-range Nodong-2 missiles along with the Taepodong-2.

Satellite Launching in 2009

See also: Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2

In February 2009, spy satellites revealed North Korea's preparation of another Taepodong-2. It has been estimated to be able to reach 5,500 km (3,400 mi), far enough to target Alaska.^[13]

North Korea informed the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that it will launch a "communications satellite" Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 on a Unha-2 carrier rocket between April 4 and April 8, 2009,^[14] however, security analysts anticipated it would be a test of a long-range ballistic missile that could reach potential Japanese or mainland US targets.^[15] On April 5, 2009 the rocket was launched at around 02:30 hours UTC (11:30 hours KST).^[16] The US Northern Command said that the first stage of the rocket fell into the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea), while the other rocket stages as well as the payload fell into the Pacific Ocean, and no object entered orbit.^[17][18] Later analysis indicated the rocket impacted 2,390 miles (3,850 km) from the launch site, and that the second stage operated normally but the rocket's third stage failed to separate properly.^[19] North Korea maintains that the rocket successfully put its payload in orbit.^[20]

See also

• Military of North Korea
• North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
  • Taepodong-1
  • Nodong-1
  • Nodong-2
  • Musudan-1
• North Korean rocket launching operations
  • 1993 North Korean missile test
  • launching of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1 in 1998
  • 2006 North Korean missile test
  • launching of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 in 2009

• List of Korea-related topics

References

1. ^ "How Terrible the Taepo?". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. March/April 2003. http://thebulletin.metapress.com/content/qx3t362441754305/?p=fb3c6488caba4c5798cae98b1af623f6&pi=9. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} North Korea’s Taepodong and Unha Missiles, Federation of American Scientists, May 30, 2008
3. ^ Kim, Jack (2009-03-25). "FACTBOX: North Korea's Taepodong-2 long-range missile". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE52P03Q20090326. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
4. ^ Taep'o-Dong-2 (TD-2) Design Evolution, Shahab-5, A,B, C/6
5. ^ Taep'o-dong 2 (TD-2) - North Korea
6. ^ NTI: Country Overviews: North Korea:
7. ^ http://www.cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/pdf/060321.pdf
8. ^ "Iran acquires ballistic missiles from DPRK, 29 December 2005". Janes Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080202085513/http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jdw/jdw051229_1_n.shtml. Retrieved 12 November 2007. 
9. ^ Taepodong-2 specs, globalsecurity.org
10. ^ Members-Only Content | Stratfor
11. ^ DIA - Current and Projected National Security Threats to the United States
12. ^ "CNN.com - U.S. officials: North Korea tests long-range missile - Jul 4, 2006". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/07/04/korea.missile/index.html. Retrieved May 24, 2010. 
13. ^ NKorea may be set for long-range missile launch: reports, AFP, February 2, 2009
14. ^ "ICAO Officially Advised of DPRK Plans for Rocket Launch," ICAO Press Release. March 12, 2009.
15. ^ Kralev, Nicholas. "Japan wants payback if N. Korea launches," Washington Times. March 19, 2009; "Govt to tell SDF to 'destroy' DPRK missiles," Yomiuri Shinbun. March 20, 2009.
16. ^ "Defiant N Korea launches rocket". BBC News. April 5, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7982874.stm. Retrieved May 24, 2010. 
17. ^ "NORAD and USNORTHCOM monitor North Korean launch" U.S. Northern Command News. April 5, 2009. Last accessed April 5, 2009.
18. ^ Sang-Hun, Choe; Cooper, Helene; Sanger, David E. (2009-04-06). "North Korea Seeks Political Gain From Rocket Launch". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/world/asia/07korea.html?hpw. Retrieved 2009-04-07. 
19. ^ Craig Covault (10 April 2009). "North Korean rocket flew further than earlier thought". Spaceflight Now. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0904/10northkorea/. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
20. ^ "TEXT-N.Korea says it successfully launched satellite" Reuters UK 5 April 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.

External links

• First stage photograph
• The Best U.S. Response to North Korea's Failed Missile Test NOW on PBS, July 7, 2006
• Nuclear Threat Initiative profile
• Federation of American Scientists profile
• GlobalSecurity.org Background
• Taepodong-2 Design Heritage Imagery @ GlobalSecurity.org
• USA Today piece from 6-20-2006
• North Korea nuclear program and ballistic missiles - Taepodong2.com
• NKorea may be set for long-range missile launch: reports, February 2, 2009