By Joseph S Bermudez JDW Special Correspondent Colorado
Emerging reports indicate that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea - DPRK) is developing-- and is in the process of deploying--at least two new ballistic missile systems.
The first is a land-based road-mobile medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM)/intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) with an estimated range of 2,500-4,000km. The second is a companion submarine or ship-mounted ballistic missile system with a range of at least 2,500km. Both systems appear to be based on the decommissioned Soviet R-27 (NATO: SS-N-6) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
The R-27 is a single-stage, liquid-propellant SLBM that became operational in the Soviet Navy during 1968. It weighs 14,200kg and is 9.65m in length, with a diameter of 1.5m and a range of 2,500km. The original version carried a single nuclear re-entry vehicle (RV), while the later R-27U carried three RVs, each with a 200kT payload.
It is believed that the R-27 technology originated with personnel from the VP Makeyev Design Bureau in Miass, Chelyabinsk. A group of 20 missile specialists from the bureau was detained in December 1992 as they were attempting to depart for the DPRK.
What made this incident so significant was that this design bureau specialised in the design of Soviet SLBMs and had developed the R-27. Publicly, the specialists only stated that they had been recruited to assist the DPRK in developing a space launch vehicle, codenamed Zyb. It is unclear whether the initial technology acquisitions were government sanctioned. However, the detained missile specialists had reportedly received approval for their travel to the DPRK from the Ministry of General Machine Building and the Ministry of Security of the Russian Federation. Reports indicate that other groups of missile specialists successfully travelled to the DPRK.
The R-27 was an excellent choice upon which the DPRK could build a new system. The liquid-fuelled missile features 40-year-old technology and is well within the level of skill and industrialisation of the DPRK. More significantly, the R-27 engine was designed by the Isayev Design Bureau, which had also developed the 9D21 engine. This was being produced by the DPRK for its Hwasong 5/6 (Scud B/C) and, in a modified form, for the No-dong. The R-27 also represents a proven system that the DPRK would be able to develop and deploy without having to conduct a significant test and evaluation programme.
