North Korea Defence Forum

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Finally, this is the first official mention by KCNA of an new type ICBM launch, "in the not distant future", and at the door of Japan!

Abe Ridiculed as Matchlessly Political Dwarf

A vice director general of the Department of Japanese Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK released the following statement on November 30:

Pyongyang, November 30 (KCNA) -- A vice director general of the Department of Japanese Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea released the following statement on Saturday:

He who is born a fool is never cured.

The saying fits perfectly to Japanese Prime Minister Abe whose ignorance and stupidity were fully brought to light when he claimed the recent volley test-fire of the super-large multiple launch rocket system conducted by the DPRK is ballistic missile launch.

Early in November Abe termed the test-fire of the super-large multiple launch rocket system conducted by the DPRK a ballistic missile launch at the ASEAN summit only to be denounced as an underwit who fails to distinguish a missile launch from multiple launch rocket system, and a rare-to-be-seen deformed child. He stills makes an *** of himself.

On November 28 when the volley test-fire of the super-large multiple launch rocket system of the DPRK was conducted successfully amid great satisfaction, Abe convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council and claimed that it was a ballistic missile launch and grave challenge to the international community with no reason.

Echoing Abe's claim, the chief cabinet secretary, the minister of defence, the foreign minister and other subordinates and media of Japan term the test-fire a "ballistic missile launch".

This time the DPRK made a photo-illustrated report about the recent test-fire with a view to helping such fools as Abe see the projectiles with their eyes wide open.

It can be said that Abe is the only one idiot in the world and the most stupid man ever known in history as he fails to distinguish a missile from multiple launch rocket system while seeing the photo-accompanied report which even civilians who have no knowledge of the "military affairs", to say nothing of soldiers, can know with a single glance.

The whole world is unanimous in saying that the DPRK's recent test-fire is one of multiple launch rocket system, but Abe claims that multiple launch rocket system is missile launch to be ridiculed by the world people.

The wretched sight of Abe makes us regard him as a dog seized with fear or a puppy fawning upon the master like the U.S.

He seems to think that the U.S. will welcome his remarks about "threat from the north" at the juncture when the DPRK-U.S. negotiations are at a stalemate. The political dwarf's thought is very poor.

It is quite natural that Abe is ridiculed as a puppy affected by mange as he fails to tell one thing from another and has plenty of cheek to turn black into white, being excluded from international politics.

The DPRK considers it best not to deal with Abe as dealing with the most stupid person ever known in history and political dwarf out of favor brings disgrace to it. This thought of ours is hardening day by day.

Worse still, it is the height of absurdity that Japan closest to the DPRK with the East Sea of Korea in between claimed that the multiple launch rocket system distinguished across the ocean is ballistic missile launch. It is uglier that Japan is making a fuss about "a serious challenge to not only Japan but also the international community", "threat from the north" and "protest" over the shell which did not drop in the waters off Japan.

No one beat Abe, but evidently he is a thoughtless fool as he insists that he was beaten.

There is a Korean saying that a fool makes a rod for himself.

Abe may see what a real ballistic missile is in the not distant future and under his nose.

Abe would be well-advised to distinguish multiple launch rocket from a ballistic missile.

Abe is none other than a perfect imbecile and a political dwarf without parallel in the world.

Pyongyang estimates such thing as Abe so much. -0-

http://www.pyongyangtimes.com.kp/?bbs=32258
​

Recap of the last 17 launches of 2019, thus matching the year 2017:

According to Japanese source.

Not far from the record 23 launches of the year 2016.

Totaling 72 launches under Kim Jong Un

http://archive.is/WZskn/cb7ef9655e8ab73f664da87b2ed2603a40cc6c2f.jpg ; https://archive.is/WZskn/82587a1b52711602f346be008d2228ee26d1113a/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191130201756/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKjxp_PUYAAcK0w.jpg ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191130....cn/main/content?id=204982&comments-container ; http://archive.ph/JzkYZ
▲ 1. Recap of the last 17 launches of 2019

http://archive.ph/6W56e/1767b33980f9020f97b983ebd15ca694579326d5.jpg ; https://archive.ph/6W56e/bfa21748e76decf6eb66a67f0d04d8e8e21d87dd/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191130203218/https://i.guancha.cn/bbs/2019/11/29/20191129163702177.jpg ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191130....cn/main/content?id=204982&comments-container ; http://archive.ph/JzkYZ
▲ 2. The 17 launches of 2017 and 2019


And latest satellite imagery revealing new activities at the Sohae Satellite Launch Center:

Vehicle and Equipment Movement in the Sohae SLC

2019.11.30

The movement of vehicles and equipment was confirmed in the North Korean west coast of Sohae's nearby buildings. That's in line with what the Korean intelligence said, but it's not clear if it's actually ready for a launch.

On November 1, satellite images of the French National Research Institute (CNES) and the Airbus photographed on the west coast of Sohae and released to Google Earth reveal a situation that could be interpreted as a new move.

Most notable are the objects found behind the launch pad.

If you look closely at the shadows created by the launch pad, there are some brightly colored objects. The picture is of poor quality, so you can't determine the exact number, but at least five to six are only visible.

https://archive.ph/SujJ9/aace168f7c5f4aa9214cffd9156277ce801fd940.png ; https://archive.ph/SujJ9/0ef089fccc0ca57ab9ab42e94462a0be63eca199/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191130...-9025-B4C328E3CAEF_cx0_cy2_cw0_w1023_r1_s.png ; https://www.voakorea.com/a/5186674.html
▲ 3. Five to six new objects were captured behind the launch pad at Sohae's West Sea launch site. Many of the objects in satellite images are estimated to be vehicles and equipment.

https://www.voakorea.com/a/5186674.html
​

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

@Galactic Penguin SST, How soon is "in the not distant future"? What year are we looking at?

 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

@Galactic Penguin SST, How soon is "in the not distant future"? What year are we looking at?

SUPARCO, as posted in the 27th October 2019 reply:

"If this constitutes an advanced launch notice, then a space launch should be expected before three months, that is by the beginning of February 2020."

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/north-korea-defence-forum.448499/page-57#post-11858335

By Bahman 22 seems a good start.

Then, as for an ICBM two possibilities:

• 1. The 2 meters diameters Pukguksong-4 ICBM as an incremental step follow-up to the solid propellant Pukguksong-3 SLBM of 1.7 meters diameters.
If the first stage is of ~4 meters length, the thrust should reach the ~30 ton-force.
By doubling the length to ~8 meters, the thrust could reach ~100 ton-force.
But we know from Iran that the length should even exceed the 11 meters!


Size of the Qaem rocket as per official drawings:

• Qaem SLV first stage is 3.5 meter diameter
• 2nd stage is 2 meter in diameter
• 3rd stage is 1.7 meters in diameter
• 4th stage is 1.25 meters diameter

https://archive.ph/dfeW7/40385cd56641fc6189af511aee3d631bc41ffb2b.jpg ; https://archive.ph/dfeW7/845afbe332102019dc605c98329aa24bf288f051/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191121180605/https://i.imgur.com/XSi5OFN.jpg ; https://archive.ph/O1a6R/aff2eb7704b1f356e4a5b58cfc47098abba0e68a.jpg ; https://archive.ph/O1a6R/9142d4cbd4b869b93dc21587ac83866dc693bd19/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191121165206/https://i.imgur.com/RAKB8ZP.jpg
▲ 1. Official Qaem SLV drawings. Screen capture of the military.ir forum when accessed on 19th February 2019.



• 2. The liquid propellant Moksong-3 ICBM. It shares the Unha-9 first stage. If the civilian launcher version is tested it would be topped with the second stage already tested as Hwasong-15 ICBM, and with similar performance as the South Korean KSLV-II TLV.
Total thrust at lift-off should be 4x80 ton-forces or 320 ton-forces.

https://archive.fo/CdpFb/9d4776bce3315c761a29bdc897e945871e3af058.jpg ; https://archive.fo/CdpFb/78b07febfc759a855b1ccf2c55ece7aa9d22086d/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191023224733/https://i.imgur.com/JpOMGnZ.jpg
▲ 2. CGI illustration of an Unha-9 SLV at Sohae SLC LC-1.

 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

@Galactic Penguin SST, How soon is "in the not distant future"? What year are we looking at?

A new satellite image indicates North Korea may be preparing to resume engine tests at Sohae's vertical static test stand.

The image shows a large rocket/missile shipping container of about 10 meter long that was not seen at the site before Thursday.

This means that the next rocket launch will involve a new type of liquid propellant engine. Therefore the first launch could not be expected before the end of this year.

http://web.archive.org/web/20191205...2932-satellite-nk-engine-test-exlarge-169.jpg ; https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1202700567249899531/wS3qMTG1?format=jpg&name=600x314
▲ 1. A new 5th December 2019 satellite image shows a large rocket/missile shipping container of about 10 meter long at the Sohae's static test stand.

 

[925boy]

China has armed North Korea to the teeth militarily, but not economically. Interesting. maybe its to keep a "leash" on this proxy-buffer-state.

 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

A new satellite image indicates North Korea may be preparing to resume engine tests at Sohae's vertical static test stand.

The image shows a large rocket/missile shipping container of about 10 meter long that was not seen at the site before Thursday.

This means that the next rocket launch will involve a new type of liquid propellant engine. Therefore the first launch could not be expected before the end of this year.

http://web.archive.org/web/20191205...2932-satellite-nk-engine-test-exlarge-169.jpg ; https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1202700567249899531/wS3qMTG1?format=jpg&name=600x314
▲ 1. A new 5th December 2019 satellite image shows a large rocket/missile shipping container of about 10 meter long at the Sohae's static test stand.

Statement of Spokesman for Academy of National Defence Science Issued

Pyongyang, December 8 (KCNA) -- A very important test took place at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on the afternoon of December 7, 2019.

The Academy of the National Defence Science of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea made a report on the results of the successful test of great significance to the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The results of the recent important test will have an important effect on changing the strategic position of the DPRK once again in the near future. -0-

​

Commentary

This only echoes the March 18th 2017 engine test, that was coined to the 80 ton-force Paektusan-1 engine.

Indeed it is very rare that North Korea celebrates an engine test. Only the previous HS-10/HS-13 main engine was previously announced, while test for dual gimballed engines for rocket second stage were never reported.

In a nutshell this test could be the one dedicated to the never tested before Paektusan-1D engine that delivers a 80-tf thrust for the incoming Unha-9 first stage, a fully-gimballed variant of the Paektusan engine series and with a single turbopump and a single-combustor.

Unlikely that at this stage, North Korea tries to test the ~150-tf to 200-tf Paektusan-2 engine that will power the future heavy launcher Unha-20/Safir-4.

Paektusan engines family

• The Paektusan-1A engines has a single-turbopump and a single-combustor. It is static. 80-tf.

• The Paektusan-1B engines has a single-turbopump and a single static combustor plus 4 swivelling verniers. 100-tf, powering the Hwasong-12 and Hwasong-14.

• The Paektusan-1C engine has a single-turbopump with two gimballed nozzles. 80-tf, powering the Hwasong-15.

• The Paektusan-1D engine fully-gimballed with a single turbopump and a single-combustor. 80-tf, powering the Unha-9/Moksong-3.

• The Paektusan-2 engine with a thrust of 150-tf to 200-tf. Powering the Unha-20.

 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Various reports consistent with a new launch campaign. This time the never tested before powerful Unha-9 SLV, no earlier than end of January.

North Korea’s Sohae test was of a high-output engine using liquid fuel, South Korean military says

Dec.10,2019 17:49 KST

Launch pad at Tongchang Village incapable of solid fuel tests

The South Korean military believes that the subject of the “very important test” carried out by North Korea at its Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on Dec. 7 was a high-output engine using liquid fuel, the Hankyoreh learned on Dec. 9. The military has reserved its judgment on the question of whether this test will lead to a satellite launch or an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch.

“The launch pad at Tongchang Village isn’t a facility capable of conducting solid fuel tests. The view of intelligence officials is that this test wasn’t related to solid fuel,” said a senior official in the South Korean military on Monday. The officials’ remarks suggest that the test may have been held at the vertical launcher at Tongchang Village, which is designed to test liquid fuel engines.

The view in some quarters is that North Korea’s test was designed to increase the engine output of the Hwasong-15 ICBM, which was tested in November 2017. During that test, North Korea unveiled what it called the “Mt. Paektu engine,” which combined two of the Hwasong-14 engines. The Mt. Paektu liquid fuel engine is based on the RD-250 twin engine developed by the Soviets. North Korea currently uses liquid fuel engines in its satellite launch vehicles and its ICBMs.

The US continues to bolster efforts to monitor movements in North Korea. The Rivet Joint RC-135W, the US’ primary plane for frequency monitoring and surveillance, flew at an elevation of 9.4km above southern Gyeonggi Province on Monday.

By Yoo Kang-moon, senior staff writer

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/920312.html
http://archive.is/7fLoO​

South Korea, U.S. Step up Surveillance of North Korea

December 11, 2019 10:39

North Korea last Saturday conducted what appears to have been a liquid-fuel engine thrust test at a long-range missile launch site in [Sohae SLC] Tongchang-ri near the Chinese border.

There are signs that it has already moved a three-stage rocket from a missile factory in Sanum-dong in Pyongyang to an assembly facility at [Sohae SLC] Tongchang-ri.

Military authorities speculate that if [Sohae SLC] Tongchang-ri is chosen for the launch, it will be a rocket carrying a satellite rather than a straightforward intercontinental ballistic missile.

North Korea launched its Unha or Kwangmyongsong-class rockets from the 67 m-high fixed launch pad at [Sohae SLC] Tongchang-ri. But ICBMs have been launched from mobile launchers since 2017.

http://web.archive.org/web/20191211...e/data/html_dir/2019/12/11/2019121101218.html
http://archive.ph/qsSth​

U.S. flies another reconnaissance plane amid tensions with North Korea: aviation tracker

December 11, 2019

The United States again flew a surveillance aircraft over the Korean Peninsula, an aviation tracker said Wednesday, the latest in a series of flights to monitor North Korea amid growing concern Pyongyang may be preparing for a long-range rocket launch.

The RQ-4 Global Hawk was spotted over the Korean Peninsula at 52,000 feet, Aircraft Spots said on its Twitter account without specifying the exact time of the operation.

Global Hawk is a high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle capable of performing reconnaissance missions in the air for more than 30 hours at a time. It is considered one of the most advanced intelligence-gathering platforms in the world.

In recent weeks, the U.S. has deployed several types of surveillance planes over the peninsula, including its Navy's P-3C maritime surveillance plane, the RC-135U Combat Sent, the RC-135W Rivet Joint, the RC-135S Cobra Ball aircraft and the E-8C aircraft.

http://archive.ph/hdpaF/617e55e41c4902b334f4a61bdfe51c524193670a.jpg ; https://archive.ph/hdpaF/a4a10b4271a339a62ce79b178a2c02b2d90e7fdf/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191211...a/YH/2012/12/25/PYH2012122600220034100_P4.jpg
▲ 1. The RQ-4 Global Hawk was spotted over the Korean Peninsula at 52,000 feet.

http://web.archive.org/web/20191211...AEN20191211003700325?section=national/defense
http://archive.ph/7dZVI​

 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

North Korea 'Conducted Long-Range Missile Engine Test'

December 10, 2019 12:54

South Korean military intelligence on Monday concluded tentatively that North Korea's "very important test" in Tongchang-ri near the Chinese border last week was of a new liquid-fuel engine for an intercontinental ballistic missile.

The engine is most likely intended for a modified version of the Hwasong-15 ICBM.

The South Korean military is keeping a close watch on North Korea to see whether it will launch an ICBM disguised as a space rocket as a shot across the bow of the U.S.

Military sources here said North Korea considers the test a success.

http://web.archive.org/web/20191211...e/data/html_dir/2019/12/10/2019121001617.html
http://archive.is/fjrA3​

420 seconds engine test:

Spokesman for Academy of Defence Science of DPRK Issues Statement

Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- Another crucial test was successfully conducted at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground from 22:41 to 22:48 on December 13, 2019.

Our defence scientists were greatly honored to receive warm congratulations from the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on the spot.

The research successes being registered by us in defence science one after another recently will be applied to further bolstering up the reliable strategic nuclear deterrent of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. -0-

http://kcna.kp/kcna.user.article.retrieveNewsViewInfoList.kcmsf​

 

[Websorber]

North Korea says it conducted 'another crucial test' at satellite launch site
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20191214001351325?platform=hootsuite

 

[Websorber]

First North Korean SRBM test of 2020

https://twitter.com/x/status/1235111938058866688

 

[Websorber]

Kim Jong Un Guides Another Firepower Strike Drill

https://twitter.com/x/status/1237636013343887360

 

[Aasimkhan]

North Korea says it conducted 'another crucial test' at satellite launch site
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20191214001351325?platform=hootsuite

boy do i love this man

 

[Websorber]

KN-24 launch March 21

https://twitter.com/x/status/1242195450062610432

 

[Websorber]

Preliminary Assessment of the KN-24 Missile Launches

https://twitter.com/x/status/1243076311784075264

 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

According to recent satellite imagery taken on 5th April 2020, North Korea has conducted the first solid-propellant [Pukguksong-4] intercontinental ballistic missile cold-launch test in which the missile is expelled by gas and the rocket engine ignited after the missile clears the tube.

First step before any test launch. Expect the completion of the program before the end of this year!

____
▲ 1. Satellite imagery taken on 5th April 2020 showing that North Korea has conducted the first solid-propellant [Pukguksong-4] intercontinental ballistic missile cold-launch test.

___
▲ 2. Most auspicious year of 2020 with the new North-Korean Topol-class ICBM to be test-launched within months!