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DPRK Navy submarines. The Soviet fleet and the navy of North Korea (DPRK). The current state of the DPRK fleet

DPRK.

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The Navy command has two fleets under its command, Eastern and Western, consisting of 16 battle groups. Due to the geographical location, there is no exchange of ships between fleets.

The Western Fleet, consisting of 6 squadrons of approximately 300 ships, operates in the Yellow Sea. The headquarters of the fleet is located in Nampo, the main home ports are Pip'a-got and Sagot, the smaller bases are Chho-do (Korean 초도, English Ch"o-do) and Tasa-ni ( Tasa-ri) The fleet includes a brigade of landing boats, two brigades for guarding the water area, four divisions of missile boats, four divisions of submarines, and a separate division for guarding the water area.
The Eastern Fleet, consisting of 10 squadrons of approximately 470 ships, operates in the Sea of Japan. The fleet headquarters is located in Taedong (T'oejo-dong), the main ports are Najin and Wonsan, smaller bases are Chaho (Korean 차호), Chongjin (Korean 창전), Myang Do and Puam-ni. The fleet includes two brigades of landing boats, two brigades of water area protection, a brigade of boats, a division of URO frigates, three divisions of missile boats, a separate division of torpedo boats, three divisions of submarines, a separate division of midget submarines (sabotage and reconnaissance forces).

The submarine fleet is decentralized. Submarines are based in Ch'aho, Mayangdo and Pip'a-got.

The fleet includes 3 guided missile frigates (2 Najin, 1 Soho), 2 destroyers, 18 small anti-submarine ships, 4 Soviet submarines of Project 613, 23 Chinese and Soviet submarines of Project 033 (Project 633), 29 small submarines boats of the Sang-O project, more than 20 midget submarines, 34 missile boats (10 project 205 Osa, 4 Huangfeng class, 10 Sozhu, 12 project 183 Komar; the boats are armed with P-class anti-ship missiles 15 Termit or Chinese CSS-N-1 SCRUBBRUSH), 150 torpedo boats (about half are domestically built), fire support boats (including 62 CHAHO class), 56 large (6 Hainan, 12 Daejong, 13 "Shanghai-2", 6 "Chonju", 19 "SO-1") and more than 100 small patrol boats, 10 small landing ships "Hante" (capable of carrying 3-4 light tanks), up to 120 landing boats (in including about 100 “Nampo”, created on the basis of the Soviet torpedo boat P-6, having a speed of up to 40 knots and a range of up to 335 km and capable of transporting up to 30 fully equipped paratroopers), up to 130 hovercraft, 24 minesweepers “Yukto” -1/2", 8 floating bases of midget submarines, a submarine rescue vessel, 4 hydrographic vessels, minelayers.

The use of high-speed missile and torpedo boats allows for surprise attacks on enemy warships. Submarines can be used to block sea communications, lay minefields and land special operations troops. Approximately 60% of ships are based near the demilitarized zone.

The Navy has two sniper brigades on amphibious vessels.

The coastal forces include two regiments (thirteen anti-ship missile battalions) and sixteen separate coastal artillery battalions. Coastal batteries are armed with surface-to-sea missiles S-2 Sopka, CSSC-2 SILKWORM (a Chinese copy of the Soviet P-15M), and CSSC-3 SEERSUCKER with a range of up to 95 km, as well as coastal artillery caliber 122/130/152 mm.

The DPRK fleet has extensive experience in laying minefields. Its fleet has a significant number of surface vessels designed to lay mines against coastal landings from amphibious ships, protect strategic ports and provide sea protection for ground forces. The coastal defense system combines minefields with artillery and missile coastal batteries.

The DPRK Navy operates semi-submerged vessels used by the Navy's 137th Squadron to disembark special forces soldiers from the sea. Due to their low profile, these vessels are poorly visible on radar. The speed on the surface of the water is 45 knots (83 km/h), the speed in a semi-submerged state is 4 knots (7.4 km/h).

In addition to combat ships, there are 10 cargo ships under the direct control of the Ministry of People's Armed Forces.

Story

Creation of a fleet

The history of the DPRK Navy dates back to June 5, 1946, when the North Korean Maritime Security Forces were formed in Wonsan with the help of Soviet advisers. Initially, the naval forces were subordinate to the North Korean Ministry of Internal Affairs, but with the receipt of torpedo boats and the formation of the 2nd TKA Division on August 29, 1949, the naval forces were reorganized into a separate branch of the military.

By 1950, the DPRK Navy included:

1st division of patrol ships - three sea hunters of the OD-200 type
2nd torpedo boat division - five G-5 type boats (Wonsan base)
3rd minesweeper division - two ex-American YMS type minesweepers and one ex-Japanese
division of ships under construction - 7 ships with a displacement of 250 and 800 tons;
one floating base
one military transport with a displacement of 2000 tons (formerly American, transferred from South Korea in October 1949)
six different boats and schooners (displacement 60-80 tons)
two marine regiments
coastal defense artillery regiment
anti-aircraft artillery regiment (24 37-mm MZA guns and 12 85-mm SZA guns)
three naval bases (Wonsan - GMBB, Nampo, Seocho)
Naval Academy in Wonsan.

Korean War 1950-1953

Coastal batteries, deployed for defense against enemy shipping, anti-amphibious defense and minefield protection, were equipped primarily with medium caliber field guns. Marine battalions also carried out defense on the most important sections of the coastline. The density of coastal defense was extremely low; on average, one three-gun battery was used to protect 50-60 km of coastal area. To compensate for the small number of coastal defenses, mobile batteries were effectively used. However, to combat coastal batteries, American troops were forced to pull together a significant number of ships and aircraft. In addition, the batteries deprived enemy ships of the opportunity to approach close to the shore and conduct targeted fire at the coastal and ground forces of the KPA.

North Korean Navy in the post-war period

On January 23, 1968, a US Navy reconnaissance vessel was captured by a small anti-submarine ship and three torpedo boats from the DPRK with air support. Pueblo"(AGER class). The ship was in the territorial waters of the DPRK in order to determine the nature of the activities of the North Korean Navy and reconnaissance of the radio-technical situation in the area of its eastern coast, as well as to monitor USSR military ships in the Tsushima Strait area and determine the reaction of the DPRK and the Soviet Union to the ship's reconnaissance in the Sea of Japan . The ship was fired upon by a 57 mm gun and machine guns, and then towed to port

Let's start with the "large" surface ships.
North Korea has 9 ships, which they proudly call corvettes and frigates.
The newest and most technologically advanced frigate of the Soho class. 1 piece.

Built in 1983
Length 73.8m; width 15.5m; displacement 1845t
Weapons:
4 P-21/22 missiles (export version of "Termite") Don't be surprised that this is hello from the 50s, things will be even more interesting later.
1 x 100mm gun. Not sure if it's automatic.
2x30mm AK-230
2x37mm
2x25mm
4 RBU-1200 bombs
As we can see, the ship has a helipad, but the hangar is missing or removed below deck.
Speed according to various sources is from 23 to 27 knots.
Frigate "Najin" 2 units.

In the 70s, when the ships turned into platforms studded with missile launchers, the DPRK received from the USSR drawings of the long-outdated Project 42 Falcon patrol ship. Having installed rocket launchers in addition to the provided artillery armament, we got a strange ship. A hybrid of a World War II destroyer and a missile boat.
Length 102m; width 10m; Displacement 1500t
Weapons:
2 P-21/22 missiles
2x100mm guns with manual reloading
2x57mm
2x30mm
2x25mm
Depth charges. (Rails at the stern)
Speed 24 knots
Then there are 6 ships, for some reason called artillery corvettes. The purpose of these ships is not even guessable, because the speed is not enough even to catch up with a poacher or smuggler, and the weapons will not allow them to fight with anyone else. Unless you shell the undefended shore.
Sarivon class artillery corvette 4 units.

Built in the 60s, small ships that look like aliens from the 20s and 30s.
Length 62m; Width 7.3m; Displacement about 500t
Weapons:
1x85mm
1x57mm
4x37mm (according to other sources 4x14.5mm)
Speed: 18 knots (according to other sources 16)
Tral class artillery corvette 2 units

Who do you think this is? That's right, this is a pre-war Soviet minesweeper of the Tral type. The old man is still working diligently for the glory of the Juche ideas, and apparently has no intention of retiring yet.
Length 62m, width 7.3m, displacement 500t
Weapons:
1x85mm
2x57mm
4x37mm
Speed 18 knots.
We're done with the big ships. Let's move on to the mosquito fleet.
The DPRK has a number of ancient missile boats, purchased a long time ago in the USSR and China, of which a dozen or two are on the move, but it is not interesting to consider them, these are the well-known large-scale projects 183R “Komar”, 205 “Moskit”, 206 “Storm” and others.
Their special-purpose boats are much more interesting. The most interesting thing is that they even export them. North Korean boats are in service with the navies of Iran and Syria.
So, welcome!
Type-A A boat disguised as a fishing boat for transporting scouts and saboteurs, developed in the 90s.

Length 11m; Width 3m
Speed up to 50 knots.
Length 9.3m, Width 2.54m.
Type-B Semi-submersible high-speed landing craft.

Immerses to the add-on in stealth mode. It becomes almost invisible visually and barely noticeable on radar.
Length 9.3m; Width 2.54; displacement 5t
Crew 2 people + 3 paratroopers.
Speed 30-40 knots on the surface and up to 12 knots semi-submerged.
Type-C

An improved version of model B, for 4 paratroopers.
Type-D

The same one, but sold to Iran:

A full-fledged planing submarine.
Length 12.8m; width 2.95m, displacement 10.5t
Capable of diving up to 3 meters under a snorkel and up to 20m under electric motors (?)
On the surface the speed is up to 50 knots, while underwater up to 6.
Naturally, the autonomy of these boats is not high, so North Korean engineers found a solution - dock landing ships converted from fishing trawlers. Pay attention to the gate at the stern.

Of course, in the event of war, these carrier vessels will be useless, but otherwise, for example, for landing scouts or saboteurs on the territory of South Korea or Russia, such a trawler with a submarine boat is ideal.

Actions of the DPRK Navy in the post-war period

On January 23, 1968, a small anti-submarine ship of the DPRK and three torpedo boats with air support captured the US Navy reconnaissance vessel Pueblo (AGER class). The ship was in the territorial waters of the DPRK in order to determine the nature of the activities of the North Korean Navy and reconnaissance of the radio technical situation in the area of its eastern coast, as well as to monitor USSR warships in the Tsushima Strait area and determine the reaction of the DPRK and the Soviet Union to the ship's reconnaissance in the Sea of Japan . The ship was fired upon by 57mm guns and machine guns and then towed to the port of Wonsan.

After 11 months of captivity, the crew of the Pueblo was released, and the ship itself remained at the Wonsan pier for a long time as a museum. In the late 90s, "Pueblo" was secretly relocated to the Yellow Sea, entered the Taedong River and is now one of the tourist attractions of the capital of the DPRK. The relocation went unnoticed by American and South Korean forces.

In February 1985, a Project 633 submarine built in the DPRK sank in the Yellow Sea with its entire crew. Officials say the submarine was sunk by a fishing seiner, but it was most likely sunk by American or South Korean forces.

On September 18, 1996, near the city of Gangneung on the coast of the Sea of Japan, a stranded DPRK submarine (according to the NATO classification, “Shark” type) was discovered stranded. There were 26 crew members and DPRK special forces soldiers on the boat. The DPRK soldiers abandoned the boat and tried to escape from the South Korean troops on foot. Most of them died, one was captured and another was able to go to the DPRK.

In June 1998, a North Korean Navy submarine became entangled in fishing nets near the South Korean city of Sokcho. The boat crew committed suicide.

On December 18, 1998, a half-submerged North Korean ship was sunk by South Korean Navy vessels 56 miles south of Yokji-do.

Between June 7 and June 15, 1999, 20 DPRK fishing vessels and 7-8 patrol vessels crossed the sea border with South Korea. The ships were blocked by South Korean Navy ships, and on June 15 fire contact occurred, as a result of which one DPRK torpedo boat was sunk and several ships were damaged.

On June 29, 2002, several South Korean ships invaded the territorial waters of the DPRK and fire contact occurred. As a result of the battle, a South Korean boat was sunk and 2 North Korean boats were damaged.

On March 27, 2010, the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan was torpedoed and sunk in the Yellow Sea near Baengnyeong Island. According to some sources, the corvette may have become a victim of an attack by a submarine of the DPRK Navy. As a result of the incident, 46 of the 104 crew members were killed or missing.

She sent (this became known today) 20 combat boats to the Yellow Sea, let's look at what she has...

1. Of course, the main strength of the DPRK army is the number of personnel. In percentage terms, North Korea's army is the largest in the world. With a population of 24.5 million people, the country's armed forces number 1.1 million (4.5% of the population). The DPRK army is recruited by conscription, the service life is 5-10 years.

2. In 2015, the leadership of the DPRK decided that the North Korean army should sharply increase in size. To achieve this, the country introduced compulsory military service for women who had previously served on a voluntary basis. From now on, all girls over 17 years of age are required to serve in the army. Women were nevertheless given some relief: the service life of Korean women will be “only” 3 years. As an incentive not to evade service, the country's leadership decided that only girls who have served in the army will now be accepted into universities.

3. As of 2008, the strength of the DPRK Navy was 46,000 people, in 2012 - 60,000. The conscription service life is 5-10 years. The majority of the Navy consists of Coast Guard forces. Due to the unbalanced composition of the fleet, it has limited capabilities to control sea spaces. The main task of the Navy is to support the combat operations of ground forces against the South Korean army. The Navy is capable of conducting missile and artillery attacks on coastal targets.

4. The DPRK fleet includes 3 guided missile frigates (2 Najin, 1 Soho), 2 destroyers, 18 small anti-submarine ships, 4 Soviet submarines of Project 613, 23 Chinese and domestic submarines of Project 033.

5. In addition, 29 small submarines of the Sang-O project, more than 20 midget submarines, 34 missile boats.

6. The DPRK is armed with fire support boats, 56 large and more than 100 small patrol boats, 10 Hante small landing ships (capable of carrying 3-4 light tanks), up to 120 landing boats (including about 100 Nampo) , created on the basis of the Soviet torpedo boat P-6) and about 130 hovercraft.

7. The DPRK Rocket Forces were created in the image of the Chinese Rocket Forces. In fact, the missile forces are not even a separate branch of the military, but an independent branch of the DPRK’s armed forces, which in the foreseeable future should become the basis of the country’s military power. The main missiles of the DPRK are designed on the basis of secular models: Hwasong-5 (analogue of the Soviet R-17), Hwasong-6 (modernized Hwasong-5 with an increased range), Nodong, Musudan (a number of sources are considered based on the design of the Soviet R-27 SLBM, in mainly due to external resemblance), Taepodong.

8. North Korea's main missile can be called the Nodon-B, which was developed on the basis of a Soviet prototype - the R-27 single-stage submarine-launched ballistic missile, adopted by the USSR Navy in 1968. The Nodon-B's firing range (estimated at 2750-4000 km) exceeds that of the R-27 (2500 km), which was achieved by increasing the length and diameter of the body - this made it possible to use more capacious fuel and oxidizer tanks on the rocket, although it worsened its flight characteristics.

9. “Nodon-B” can hit American military targets in Okinawa and even (if the range estimate of 4000 km is correct) in Guam, that is, on American territory itself. And after the DPRK successfully tested underwater missile launches (according to local media), the entire US territory is under attack.

10. In addition, North Korea has developed a ballistic missile, as well as a launch vehicle capable of launching artificial satellites into low-Earth orbit. The first Taepodong rockets were capable of delivering a payload weighing 750 kg over a distance of up to 2000 km. In 2006, 25-30 of them were created in the DPRK. The missiles were constantly being improved. As a result, the flight range was increased to 6,700 km. And today, US experts believe that the DPRK is developing the Taepodong-3 missile, which has a flight range of 10-12 thousand km. According to media reports, the DPRK army may already have 12-23 nuclear warheads.

11. According to South Korean media, the DPRK army has more than 21 thousand artillery pieces.

12. The main striking force of the DPRK artillery is, perhaps, the M1985 multiple launch rocket system, 240mm caliber. The system has 12 guides, and the firing range apparently reaches 35 km.

13. The M1911 multiple launch rocket system has similar characteristics. Caliber – 240 mm. Number of guides – 12. Firing range around 35 km. The DPRK has at least 500 M1985 and M1991.

14. Much more is known about the M-1978 Koksan self-propelled gun, since it is exported and was captured by American troops in Iraq.

15. Self-propelled gun M-1978 “Koksan” was created on the T-55 chassis. Caliber – 170 mm. Firing range – 40-60 km. Rate of fire 1-2 shots/5 minutes. Speed on the highway is 40 km/h. Power reserve 300 km. The M1989 vehicle, on the same chassis, is used as an ammunition carrier.

16. Artillery in the DPRK is also represented by self-propelled guns of the Juche-Po series. Unites a whole family of vehicles with weapons from 122 to 152 mm. Unfortunately, there is almost no information on this machine, but it is known for certain that Kim Yer Sung directly took part in its development.

17. The DPRK army has at least 200 Pokphunho tanks. This is the most secret North Korean tank; there is almost no information on its performance characteristics on the Internet. Created on the basis of the T-72 Armament – 125 mm smoothbore gun.

18. Also in service are a number of towed Soviet guns from the 30s to the 60s.

19. The DPRK is armed with 200 Soviet BMP-1, 32 BTR80A, at least 1000 BTR-60 (hardly on the move), 350 completely antique BTR-40. But the main transport of the North Korean infantry is their own vehicles: VTT-323 - created on the basis of the Chinese YW531 transporter. It transports 10 infantrymen in full gear, they are also equipped with 82-mm mortars and are used as mobile mortar batteries, as part of a motorized battalion.

20. The DPRK Air Force is one of the most numerous in the world and is armed with about 1,600 aircraft. Official statistics on the DPRK Air Force are not available, so estimates of the number of aircraft in service are approximate. The main striking force of the DPRK Air Force is the Soviet MIG-29 and SU-25 fighters. According to experts, the DPRK army has 523 fighters and 80 bombers.

Due to the current aggravation of international relations around the DPRK, I decided to post this unscheduled material.

It is widely known that the DPRK is the “youngest” among the members of the “nuclear club”. Since 2006 (when it first became known that the nuclear weapons program was a success), the DPRK has conducted - contrary to the demands of the international community, including China and Russia - five nuclear tests, with the equivalent of 1 kt and up to 45 kt. According to the latest assumptions, the DPRK has an arsenal of 15-20 nuclear warheads, and is probably approaching the creation of a compact and sufficiently “survivable” weapon, adapted for installation in the warhead of a ballistic missile.

Until recently, it was assumed that the DPRK's main efforts in the field of nuclear weapons delivery vehicles were concentrated on intercontinental ballistic missiles. However, little progress in this area (judging by the problematic launches of satellites, the reliability of North Korean multi-stage missiles leaves much to be desired) and growing concerns about the vulnerability of both the missiles themselves - for missile defense systems, and their launch complexes - for a preemptive strike, apparently forced the military leadership of the DPRK to reconsider its strategy. The territory of North Korea is relatively compact: it is difficult to hide large launch complexes from detection. In addition, the entire territory of the Korean Peninsula is covered by American sea-based anti-missile systems (SM-3 anti-missile systems on American, Japanese, and - in the future - South Korean destroyers), which allows them to effectively intercept launching ballistic missiles in the acceleration area, when they are extremely vulnerable.

In solving the problem, the North Koreans appear to have followed the path of other nuclear powers and turned their attention to the sea.

So, what is known about the submarine missile carriers of a brilliant comrade, a new star, a genius among geniuses in military strategy, the highest leader of the party, army and people (all official titles) and simply the modest first secretary of the Central Committee of the TP of the DPRK?

The new direction in North Korean nuclear strategy first became known to the general public in 2014, when a Google Earth satellite took a photo of the North Korean port of Sinpo and a new submarine at the outfitting wall. Those interested in naval affairs immediately noted that the new submarine measures 65 meters in length and approximately 7 meters in width, significantly surpassing all previous North Korean-built submarines. For example, the most numerous boats of the Sang-O II type in the KNF (Korean People's Navy) (one of which was captured by the southerners in 1996 during an attempt to get into a South Korean port) are only 40 meters long and no more than 4 meters wide . Thus, the new submarine obviously represented a significant step forward.

The design of the submarine's conning tower attracted the greatest interest. In addition to its unusually large size, part of the wheelhouse was covered with a blue tarpaulin, hiding some structural element. One of the versions - what exactly is hidden under the blue tire - was a shaft for a ballistic missile. At the same time, it was indicated that a similar solution (placing missile silos vertically in the submarine's wheelhouse) was used on Soviet submarines of Project 611AB and Project 629. Such similarities are hardly accidental: in the 1990s, the DPRK, through front companies and a number of foreign intermediaries, entered into an agreement on the purchase for scrap of a number of decommissioned Soviet submarines, including Project 629A missile-carrying submarines. Thus, KNF engineers could familiarize themselves in detail with the main design solutions.

Further series of images, in 2014-2015, confirmed the initial assumptions:

This pair of images shows two interesting objects. Firstly, the massive conning tower of the submarine is clearly visible with a clearly visible large hole in it (the size of the hole initially led experts - erroneously - to believe the submarine was carrying two missiles). Secondly, a large raft with a cylindrical structure in the center was noticed next to the boat - very reminiscent of the submersible stands used for test launches of SLBMs in the Soviet fleet!

Submersible stand PSD-4, Black Sea Fleet. 1961.

It is easy to notice that the designs of the North Korean and Soviet stands are almost identical: four “pylons” with masts at the corners, and a massive cylinder of the launch shaft in the center. Most likely, KNF engineers managed to gain access to the drawings of Soviet stands (possibly through China) and relied on them when developing their own version. The tendency of North Korean engineers to develop and improve existing models instead of creating new ones is quite well known.

Subsequently, the new North Korean submarine repeatedly appeared in photographs until it finally appeared in official material from the CNF naval exercises:

KNF missile-carrying submarine during exercises. The impressive dimensions of the cabin are visible.

The new class of submarines was given the symbol “Sinpo”, named after the port of construction, but, according to more precise data, the official name of the class is “Gorae”. According to available data, at least one submarine of this class - likely a technology demonstrator - has been in KNF service since at least 2015, and has taken part in experiments with underwater missile launching. Several more boats of this (or improved) type are presumably being built, or may already be completing trials.

What is known about these boats?

In design, the Shinpo class boats are a conceptual development of the previous series of small submarines of the KNF, such as the Sang-O, Yono and Yugo types. Which, in turn, are the development of the Yugoslav series of “Adriatic” submarines. Although the KNF has a number of large Type 033 submarines (the Chinese version of Project 633, assembled in the DPRK from Chinese-made components) and even at least one Project 613 submarine, Soviet-built (this venerable old lady appeared in exercises back in 2013, which I did not I can only describe it as a mockery of a valuable museum exhibit!), the construction of large submarines turned out to be unaffordable for the KNF. In addition, large submarines of the KNF would a priori be very vulnerable to modern anti-aircraft defense systems available to the navies of the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The hull of the Shinpo-class submarine is very similar to the hull of the Yono-class submarine, and is apparently a direct development of it. Based on these similarities, it can be assumed that the missile-carrying submarine is single-hulled, has at least three decks and is equipped with a sonar system (probably quite primitive) in the bow. Horizontal rudders are located in the front part of the hull, vertical ones are in the stern. It is assumed (it is not clear from the available photographs) that the submarine carries from 2 to 4 torpedo tubes in the bow.

The submarine's power plant appears to be standard diesel-electric. The boat is probably equipped with a device for operating diesel engines under water (a snorkel), but there is no evidence of any air-independent installation on it. The propulsion is a standard screw. The crew, according to estimates, is 70-80 people.

The technical data of the submarine, of course, are only an object of extrapolation, but we can still assume the following performance characteristics:

* Displacement - from 2000 to 2500 tons.
* Length - 65 m
* Width - 7 m
* Underwater/surface speed - extrapolating data from the captured Sang-O, we can assume that it does not exceed 10/16 knots. Probably the real one is lower.
* Dive depth - again, extrapolating the data from Sang-O, the dive depth is 150-200 meters. There is an opportunity to go to the bottom.
* Surface range - most likely does not exceed 5000-6000 km.

The main interest, of course, is the submarine's missile armament. It is represented by a single missile, the Pukkusong-1 (also known as the KN-11). It is somewhat ironic that the name of the missile translated from Korean means “polar star” - that is, identical to the name of the first American SLBM, Polaris!

This ballistic missile bears certain similarities to the Soviet R-27 submarine-launched ballistic missile, created in the mid-1960s. Although the similarity is probably purely external, it cannot be ruled out that KNF engineers were able to obtain some (possibly indirect) information about the design of the retired R-27, or its Chinese counterpart, the JL-1.

The rocket is single-stage, has a length of about 9.3 meters, a diameter of about 1.5 meters and a launch weight - presumably - in the region of 15 tons. It is likely capable of carrying some of North Korea's existing nuclear warheads. However, it is not known for sure whether the KNF has thermal protection systems at its disposal that can ensure the safe entry of a warhead into the atmosphere.

An interesting detail is that the rocket probably exists in liquid and solid fuel versions:

Left: Photo of a rocket launch in 2014. Right: Photo of a rocket launch in 2016. The exhaust jets of the rockets are clearly different.

This could be explained either by the independent development of liquid-propellant and solid-propellant SLBMs, or by the decision to switch to solid propellant due to the problems of storing a liquid-propellant missile on a very small submarine. Since North Korea likely does not have access to modern solid rocket propellant technology, the efficiency of the rocket's engines is likely to be low. The rocket is single-engine, with a single fixed nozzle. The missile is controlled in flight, like other North Korean ballistic missiles, using lattice rudders at the stern.

The rocket is adapted for launch from a submerged position, from a depth of 2-5 meters. Initially, the tests were carried out with a "hot" start, i.e. turning on the rocket engines directly in the silo with its further exit from the silo under its own power. However, later, the DPRK apparently switched to “cold” launch technology: the missile is pushed out of the silo by compressed air, with the engines starting over water. This may be due to the transition to solid fuel, which ignites more easily.

From October 2014 to February 2017, the KNF conducted 12 test launches of the rocket, with the following results:

During the launches, a flight range of about 500 km was demonstrated. However, it should be noted that the actual range of the missile is likely higher, ranging from 1200 to 1500 km. This is due to the fact that in the last two (successful) launches, the rocket was launched along a very high, almost vertical trajectory, rising to an altitude of up to 550 km. With a more optimal trajectory - at an angle closer to 45 degrees - the flight range could be more than 1000 km. It is unclear whether the missile has a detachable warhead, which could help determine the range. An analysis carried out by specialists from the Republic of Korea suggests a range of up to 2500 km when using a detachable warhead.

Estimated range of North Korean submarines (orange) and their missiles (blue).

So, the main question is what do Sinpo-class submarines give to the DPRK fleet?

It is obvious that these boats - despite all the efforts of the designers - are still not genuine missile submarines. Their range of action is limited, they are not capable of operating underwater for a long time, except under a snorkel - which, taking into account the modern development of anti-submarine defense systems, makes them extremely vulnerable. It is noteworthy that North Korean designers tried (as best they could) to mitigate the problem by developing an underwater missile launch system: by comparison, early Soviet missile submarines could only launch their missiles from the surface.

A major drawback is the presence of only one ballistic missile on board. Even without taking into account the unreliability of North Korean missiles - taking into account all the difficulties of an underwater launch, I would suggest that the probability of a successful launch of Pukkusong-1 under realistic (not demonstration) conditions is no more than 50%, without taking into account possible failures already in flight - low accuracy and weakness of the warhead make it unlikely to successfully defeat anything except very large, area objects. This de facto reduces the capabilities of CNF submarines to deterrence by the potential threat of an attack: their actual combat capabilities are very limited.

In general, Sinpo-class submarines are, rather, not so much underwater missile carriers as underwater mobile launchers. Probably, their main task is not patrolling in the open ocean (the DPRK Navy does not have any means to cover the combat deployment areas of missile carriers), but duty in a stationary position - possibly lying on the bottom - in the coastal waters of North Korea and operations in the waters of Japan and Yellow seas.

What is the advantage of this - more expensive - method of deployment over conventional stationary/mobile installations?

1) Such “coastal missile carriers” are less vulnerable to surprise attacks. Being diesel-electric submarines, they can travel short distances almost silently, and lie on the bottom for a long time without revealing themselves to the operation of mechanisms. It is extremely difficult to identify such missile platforms in advance and destroy them with a first strike: you need to comb square kilometers of water area with magnetometers (and even the DPRK air defense, with all its obsolescence, can cause a severe headache for anti-submarine aircraft!)

2) They can launch missiles from unpredictable directions. The territory of the DPRK is very small, and is completely “visible” by American and South Korean radars - and is also “fired” by American and Japanese SM-3 (sea-based) and THAAD (ground-based) anti-missiles. Due to the limited flight time, launching North Korean missiles can be hit by anti-missile missiles while still accelerating - at a time when they are especially vulnerable. Even “coastal” submarines can significantly expand the range of possible launch positions, making it difficult to intercept during acceleration and forcing one to resort to less effective destruction of warheads upon re-entry.

3) Potentially - although this probability is very small - North Korean missile-carrying submarines pose a threat to US island territories in the Pacific Ocean, to US allies outside the Sea of Japan, and even to the US "home territory" in Alaska. This forces the Americans to at least devote significant efforts to anti-submarine defense. It should be noted, however, that the Americans and their allies (as well as China, which is increasingly negatively disposed towards the DPRK) control all the “bottlenecks” of the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, and the East China Sea, and the output of relatively noisy submarines that are unable to move under water for a long time time without a snorkel, on ocean communications is unlikely.

I present to your attention an overview of the MODERN fleet of the DPRK.

It is unique in many ways. See for yourself what engineers from a poor country that does not have access, even general access, to any technical innovations can develop. Unfortunately, due to the absolute closedness of the country, there are virtually no photographs of this unique phenomenon, so you have to be content with rare pictures.
Let's start with the "large" surface ships.
North Korea has 9 ships, which they proudly call corvettes and frigates.
The newest and most technologically advanced frigate of the Soho class. 1 piece.

Length 11m; Width 3m
Speed up to 50 knots.
Length 9.3m, Width 2.54m.
Type-B Semi-submersible high-speed landing craft.

An improved version of model B, for 4 paratroopers.
Type-D

The same one, but sold to Iran:

PS Designers in the DPRK are what they need, but God forbid any other country gets to the point of commissioning ships from the early 20th century, much less considers, as the North Koreans believe, that their fleet is one of the strongest in the world.

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