Pukguksong-5

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Wikipedia

Pukguksong-5
TypeSubmarine-launched ballistic missile
Place of originNorth Korea
Production history
Designed2021
ManufacturerNorth Korea
No. built5 prototypes
Specifications
LengthAbout 10.5–11.6 m (34–38 ft)
WidthAbout 1.8–2.1 m (5.9–6.9 ft)
WarheadNuclear warhead
MIRV-capable (unconfirmed)
Propellantsolid fuel
Operational
range
About 3,000–5,000 km (1,900–3,100 mi) (estimated)
Launch
platform
submersible barge, submarine (planned)

The Pukguksong-5[a] (Korean: 북극성-5; lit. Polaris 5) is a North Korean two-stage, solid-fueled submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). First unveiled in January 2021 during a military parade, Pukguksong-5 is an evolution of Pukguksong-3 with a longer range and a larger size. The missile may also be capable of carrying a heavier payload or multiple warheads. North Korea has claimed Pukguksong-5 as "the world's most powerful weapon".

Description

Images of the Pukguksong-5
image icon At the 14 January 2021 military parade

Pukguksong-5 is a two-stage, solid-fueled ballistic missile. It is significantly increased in size compared to the Pukguksong-4, with estimated length and diameter of 10.5–11.6 m (34–38 ft) and 1.8–2.1 m (5 ft 11 in – 6 ft 11 in) respectively. Compared with Pukguksong-3 and Pukguksong-4, Pukguksong-5 have a pointed, elongated nose cone.[2][4][5][6]

German expert Norbert Brügge claimed the Pukguksong-5 to be a silo-based missile.[7]

Pukguksong-5 is alleged to have greater range and heavier payload.[6] The operational range of Pukguksong-5 is assumed to be from about 3,000 km (1,900 mi) to 4,000–5,000 km (2,500–3,100 mi),[4][5][8] allowing North Korea submarines to threaten Guam while operating in the Sea of Japan, not far from the North Korean coast. The range is claimed to be a result of the backwardness in design, manufacturing technology and solid propellants.[4][5] It is possible that Pukguksong-5 is capable of carrying multiple warheads.[9]

The Pukguksong-5's first stage is possibly identical to Pukguksong-3 and Pukguksong-4.[10]

History

In November 2019 and October 2020, Daily NK's sources reported that North Korea planned to develop Pukguksong-5, intending to be fitted to a nuclear-powered submarine and launched in 2022.[11][12]

Pukguksong-5 made its public debut in a military parade on 14 January 2021. Four Pukguksong-5 missiles were placed on 6-axle wheeled semi-trailers. At the time of debut, North Korea claimed Pukguksong-5 to be "the world's most powerful weapon".[6][13] The appearance of yet another untested missile likely indicates North Korea is still in the process of finalizing on a specific SLBM design.[4][14] These missiles were assessed to be non-operational mock-ups.[15]

North Korea displayed Pukguksong-5 along with Pukguksong-1 and then-unnamed Hwasong-11S during "Self-Defence 2021" military exhibition, held in October 2021.[16]

According to Kim Dong-yup, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, a solid-fueled engine, which was tested in December 2022 and produced 140 tons of thrust, could be the engine of Pukguksong-5.[17]

It is possible that Pukguksong-5 remains just a paper project.[4]

There have been no known test for Pukguksong-5 so far. However, an alleged flight test occurred on 19 October 2021. Initially, the missile used for the test-fire was supposed to be some types of SLBMs, including Pukguksong-5. Later, the missile used in the 19 October 2021 launch was judged to be Hwasong-11S, an underwater-launched variant of Hwasong-11A (KN-23).[18][19][20]

Notes

  1. ↑ Also known as Pukguksong-5S (북극성-5ㅅ; lit. Polaris 5S), Pukguksong-5ㅅ (mixing Latin and Korean characters) and Pukkuksong-5.[1][2][3]

See also

  • Pukguksong-4 – (North Korea)
  • M45 – (France) – (France)
  • R-29R – (Soviet Union)
  • UGM-96 Trident I – (United States)
  • JL-2 – (China)
  • K-5 – (India)

References

  1. ↑ Hòa Bình (7 September 2021). "Mỹ-Hàn tuyên bố đang theo dõi chặt cuộc duyệt binh của quân đội Triều Tiên" [US and South Korea say they are closely monitoring North Korea's military parade]. Báo Xây dựng (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  2. 1 2 Tianran Xu (25 July 2022). "Emerging Capabilities? The Unflown SLBMs of the DPRK" (PDF). Open Nuclear Network. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Markus V. Garlauskas (1 February 2021). "Pukkuksong-5: Why North Korea's New Solid-Fuel Missile Is a Problem". Center for the National Interest. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Michael Elleman (15 January 2021). "North Korea's Newest Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile, Same as the Old One". 38 North. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Vũ Anh (18 January 2021). "Tên lửa có thể giúp tàu ngầm Triều Tiên đe dọa đảo Guam" [Missiles could help North Korean submarines threaten Guam]. VnExpress (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "S/2021/211" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. 4 March 2021. pp. 14, 96. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  7. ↑ Norbert Brügge. "Pukguksong-4 and -5". www.b14643.eu. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  8. ↑ Kim Jong-won (27 April 2022). "[분석] "북한 신형 SLBM, 미국 가까이 안 가고도 미 본토 핵공격"" [[Analysis] "North Korea's new SLBM can strike the US mainland without going near the US"]. NewsPim (in Korean). Retrieved 2 February 2025. 북극성-5ㅅ형은 4000~5000km (The range of Pukguksong-5S is 4,000-5,000km)
  9. ↑ "North Korean nuclear forces (2021)" (PDF). Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  10. ↑ H. I. Sutton (15 January 2021). "New North Korean Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile". H I Sutton - Covert Shores. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  11. ↑ Seulkee Jang (7 November 2019). 靑, 미사일 위협 아니라는데…北 “2022년까지 핵추진잠수함 완성” [Blue House denies missile threat, but North Korea says nuclear-powered submarine to be completed by 2022]. Daily NK (in Korean). Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Seulkee Jang (12 October 2020). “열병식서 뽐낸 SLBM, 4개 탄두 탑재 가능…8개 최종목표” [The SLBM shown at the parade can carry four warheads, with the ultimate goal of eight]. Daily NK (in Korean). Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  13. ↑ William Gallo (15 January 2021). "North Korea Shows Off New Submarine-Launched Missile at Military Parade". Voice of America. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  14. ↑ Dominguez, Gabriel (15 January 2021). "North Korea unveils Pukguksong-5 SLBM at military parade". Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  15. ↑ "S/2021/777" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. 8 September 2021. p. 11. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  16. ↑ Tianran Xu (18 October 2021). "Brief on the Defence Development Exhibition of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (PDF). Open Nuclear Network. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  17. ↑ Park Eun-Kyung (16 December 2022). "북한의 '고출력 고체 로켓엔진' 개발의 꿈···단거리서 중장거리로" [North Korea's dream of developing a 'high-power solid rocket engine'... From short-range to medium- and long-range]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  18. ↑ Minh Hạnh (19 October 2021). "Triều Tiên phóng thử tên lửa đạn đạo từ tàu ngầm?" [North Korea test-launched ballistic missile from submarine?]. Tiền Phong (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  19. ↑ Daehan Lee (19 October 2021). "North Korea Fires Possible Pukguksong-5ㅅ SLBM". Naval News. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  20. ↑ "The CNS North Korea Missile Test Database". Nuclear Threat Initiative. Retrieved 25 January 2025.