North Korea test-fires apparent HGV-equipped Hwaseongpho-11 variant

North Korea's newly identified Hwaseongpho-11Ma-1 missile, assessed to be equipped with an HGV, is launched during a test conducted on 20 September. (Janes)

North Korea has test-fired a ‘new-type' missile system, state-owned Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on 22 September.

According to KCNA, the test took place on 20 September and was conducted by the country's Missile Administration. However, it did not disclose the missile system's designation, specifications or performance details.

Citing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who was present at the test site, KCNA described the test as “an unmistakable demonstration of cutting-edge defence technology” and a “clear step forward in the modernisation” of the Korean People's Army (KPA).

A telemetry display visible in KCNA imagery bears the designation ‘Hwaseongpho-11Ma-1', possibly indicating a new variant of the broader Hwaseong-11 family, also known as the KN-23 family, of solid‑fuel short‑range ballistic missiles (SRBMs). The missile appears to feature a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) in a boost-glide configuration.

Flight data visible in the published telemetry images showed the HGV travelling at 2,146 m/s at an altitude of 35.8 km after 446.1 seconds (7.43 minutes) of flight, covering 908.2 km. This indicates a depressed, glide-type trajectory consistent with an HGV rather than a ballistic arc.

Janes analysis of the images suggests that the missile measures approximately 9.6 m in length and 1.1 m in diameter, and weighs an estimated 9.8 tonnes. It was launched from a six-axle vehicle that appears to be a single-round transporter-erector-launcher (TEL).

The test appears to correspond to two missile launches reported by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) on 20 September. At that time, the JCS assessed that the launches involved two SRBMs.