Hwasong-11B

The Hwasong-11B^[a] (Korean: 《화성포-11나》형; lit. Mars Artillery Type 11B), also known as KN-24 under the United States’s naming convention,^[6] is a North Korean single-stage, solid-fueled tactical ballistic missile.

Hwasong-11B
Artist rendition of the missile, with two color variants: Black-white (left) and tan-white (right)
Type	Short-range ballistic missile
Place of origin	North Korea
Service history
Used by	North Korea (Korean People's Army Strategic Force) Russia
Wars	Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designed	2019
Specifications
Length	7.2 m (24 ft)
Diameter	1.1 m (3 ft 7 in)
Warhead	400–500 kg (880–1,100 lb)
Engine	Solid fuel rocket
Operational range	410 km (250 mi)
Maximum speed	up to 2.1 km/s (Mach 6.2)
Guidance system	Inertial navigation system (INS), possible satellite navigation
Accuracy	35–200 m (115–656 ft)
Launch platform	tracked or 8×8 wheeled TEL

Description

The Hwasong-11B is a missile that bears an external resemblance to the American MGM-140 ATACMS and likely fills a similar role of supporting battlefield operations. Its aft-mounted aerodynamic fins are fixed rather than foldable like those on the ATACMS, requiring deployment from rectangular launch canisters. It flies in a "variable ballistic trajectory," flattening out at a lower altitude, below around 50 km (31 mi), than traditional SRBMs like the Scud, where the atmosphere is dense enough, so the missile's fins can maintain aerodynamic control over its entire flight and dive toward the target.^[6][7][8]

The use of INS updated with satellite-guidance data could make it accurate to within 35–200 m (115–656 ft) CEP, depending whether the missile uses satellite guidance or INS alone. Although the missile is outwardly similar to the ATACMS, it has demonstrated greater range, suggesting its physical dimensions are larger. It appears to share a common booster with the Hwasong-11A (KN-23) and is estimated to carry a 400–500 kg (880–1,100 lb) payload with a unitary or submunition warhead. The Hwasong-11B is also capable of carrying Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warhead. It is likely to replace older liquid-fueled North Korean SRBMs, like the Hwasong-5 and Hwasong-6, as its non-parabolic trajectory makes it more survivable against missile defense systems, and its increased accuracy reduces the number of missiles that would be needed to destroy a single target.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}

Despite their similarities to the ATACMS system, the Hwasong-11B is significantly larger, and likely uses the same motor as the Pukguksong-1 with similar jet vanes, and overall resembling a single stage version of it. The launch container is a tracked chassis that has a width of about 1.26 m (4 ft 2 in) and a wheel diameter of 0.78 m (2 ft 7 in), similar to the Pukguksong-2 tracked TEL. A number of images shown of the system appears to be manipulated, significantly increasing the size of the launcher. The Hwasong-11B can also be launched using a four-axle chassis along with the tracked TEL.^[11][12]

With the missile fulfilling a similar role to the Hwasong-11A, there should have been no need to develop another missile later with an overlapping performance. In an analysis of news reports from the Korean Central News Agency, despite the differences the Hwasong-11A possesses from the 9K720 Iskander, the Hwasong-11A is likely to be constructed with foreign assistance or foreign parts.^[13]

While all the news reports on the Hwasong-11A mainly focused on the deployment, 'demonstration of power' and newness of it, reports on the Hwasong-11B instead focused on the 'research' and 'development' in its first launch. Later launches of Hwasong-11B made mention of 'Juche weapons of Korean style', which is not mentioned at all for the Hwasong-11A, hinting that whereas the Hwasong-11B underwent a research and development phase, the Hwasong-11A was already deployed prior to being tested, and likely having foreign involvement in some form.^[13]

History

Hwasong-11B made its public debut on 10 August 2019 with a flight test. Another test-fire occurred on 16 August 2019. A third flight test was also carried out on 21 March 2020.^[14] Between the March 2020 test and January 2022 test, North Korea featured Hwasong-11B (then known by its US designation) in military parades on 10 October 2020 and 14 January 2021,^[15][16] as well as the “Self-Defence 2021” military exhibition in October 2021, where North Korea revealed official name of the missile.^[17]

North Korea also unveiled a tan-coloured version of Hwasong-11B during the “Self-Defence 2021” military exhibition.^[12][17]

Hwasong-11B also appeared in military parades on 25 April 2022,^[18] 8 February 2023,^[19] as well as on 27 July 2023, when North Korea unveiled truck-type TEL of Hwasong-11B.^[11] A further test-fire took place on 30 August 2023.^[19][20]

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), as of 2025, North Korea is possessing more than nine Hwasong-11B launchers. These launchers are assessed as "in test" by the IISS.^[21]: 268

Usage during Russian invasion of Ukraine

On 15 February 2024, a Hwasong-11B was claimed to be shot down in Ukraine, near Kyiv.^{[22][unreliable source?]}

A day later, on 16 February 2024, Ukrainian data showed 24 missiles, including Hwasong-11B type, being used by Russia, allegedly with low accuracy.^[23]

According to Ukraine, at the start of 2025, North Korea had supplied at least 148 ballistic missiles of two types, including Hwasong-11B.^[24]

List of tests

Confirmed tests

Attempt	Date	Location	Number of missiles tested	Outcome	Additional notes	References
1	10 August 2019	Hamhung	2	Success	Two missiles reached an apogee of 48 km (30 mi) and a range of 400 km (250 mi), at a speed of 2.1 km/s (7,600 km/h; 4,700 mph). Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-fire.	[6][25]
2	16 August 2019	Tongchon	2	Success	These missiles flew to an apogee of 30 km (19 mi) and a range of 230 km (140 mi), demonstrating a depressed trajectory. Kim Jong Un supervised the test-fire.	[14][26]
3	21 March 2020	Sonchon	2	Success	These missiles flew to an apogee of 50 km (31 mi) and a range of 410 km (250 mi), performing "pull-up maneuvers" in flight, and one supposedly striking a small 100 meter-long island. Kim Jong Un supervised the test-fire.	[6][7][27]
4	17 January 2022	Sunan Airport	2	Success	The missiles flew 380 km (240 mi) and achieved an apogee of 42 km (26 mi), with a maximum speed of Mach 5 (1.7 km/s). The test-fire was conducted to check operational readiness and validate the build quality of mass produced Hwasong-11B missiles.	[14][28]
5	2–5 November 2022	Unknown	2	Un­known	Information based on the images released by Korean Central News Agency on 7 November 2022.	[29][30]
6	30 August 2023	Sunan Airport	2	Success	These missiles achieved 50 km (31 mi) apogee. One missile flew 400 km (250 mi), the other flew 350 km (220 mi). The missiles exploded at an altitude of about 400 m (1,300 ft) above target.	[14][20]

Unconfirmed tests

According to member states of the United Nations Security Council, some of the eight ballistic missiles fired on 5 June 2022 could be the Hwasong-11B.^[31]

See also

• KTSSM – South Korean tactical ballistic missilePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• ATACMS – American tactical ballistic missile
• Hwasong-11D – North Korean short-range ballistic missile

Notes

1. Also known without using United States’s designation as Hwasong-11Na, Hwasongpho-11Na, Songun ATACMS, Hwasong-11나 and Hwasongpho-11나 (mixing Latin and Korean characters).^[1][2][3][4] South Korea also refers to Hwasong-11B as 19-4 SRBM under its naming convention.^[5]