Tweet
North Korean Missile Launch Apparently Fails
VOA News
November 28, 2015 8:09 AM
A South Korean news agency is reporting that North Korea has apparently failed in its attempt to test-fire a ballistic missile from a submarine in the Sea of Japan.
Yonhap quoted a South Korean official as saying North Korea fired the KN 11 missile between 2:20 p.m. and 2:40 p.m. local time Saturday, but the launch was unsuccessful. He said debris from the missile was found on the sea's surface.
South Korea's Defense Ministry refused to confirm the report.
North Korean media reported last May that the country successfully test-fired a submarine-based ballistic missile, in what would be an indication of the country's advancing military technology.
The official KCNA news agency said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the testing said the launch was "an eye-opening success."
North Korea is under U.N. sanctions banning it from developing or using ballistic missile technology.
Another Report:
The North appears to have failed the launch,” said the anonymous South Korean government official according to Yonhap and KBS.
The source also said that debris from the missile was found on the ocean surface.
The launch reportedly took place sometime between 2:20 and 2:40pm on Saturday, Korean Standard Time, and comes less than three weeks after North Korea declared a no-sail zone in the East Sea.
Previously, North Korea has tested the Pukkuksong-1 (‘Polaris-1′) SLBM in May. The missile, also known in the United States and South Korea as the KN-11, is likely based on the Russian R-27B as well as the North Korea’s BM-25 Musudan (Hwasong-10).
NK News military analyst John Grisafi warned not to underestimate the failed launch as the state has still gained some valuable lessons from this launch.
“It’s worth noting that failures are a normal part of weapons development and testing. A failed test is to be expected at some point. Importantly, failures are learning experiences and the developers can gain valuable insight from them,” said Grisafi.
“So the failed launch should not necessarily be taken as a sign of failure or lack of progress in the development of North Korea’s SLBM. Pyongyang has almost certainly gained something from this test.”
Cheong Sung-jang of the Sejong Institute does not believe that the launch will negatively affect towards the holding of high-level talks in following month.
“If this was successful launch, than it would’ve affected negatively towards the holding of high-level talks,” said Cheong.
“Both South Korea and U.S. would’ve had to take actions against North Korea’s launch, as SLBM is unpredictable weapon, making it extremely dangerous for both countries.”
But fortunately for Korea, this event will most likely not be discussed or mentioned publicly by North Korea.
“North Korea never recognizes their failed attempts. All we see on the national newspaper and KCTV are successful events.”
“North Korea is most likely not to publicly mention the launch as they have proven lack of skill to adapt sophisticated SLBM technologies, unlike their somewhat successful attempt during May this year.”
The Missile
the KH 11 has been described under various names. Polaris-1 North Star Pukkuksong-1 or Bukkeuksong-1 or Nodong-D. It is a new North Korean submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) that is under development , based on the soviet Russian R-27 and other projects on R-29 , R-29RM. Storable liquid propellants, probably hydrazine UDMH (that's unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine for those without a chemistry background) and IRFNA (inhibited red fuming nitric acid). These two fuels ignite upon mixing, and are very toxic and dangerous to handle. Range of the missile is very roughly estimated at 2400-3000 Km (1400-1800 miles).
Comment