Missile Administration

This article is about the Military R&D unit of the Korean People's Army. For similar branch within the Army, see Korean People's Army Strategic Force.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Missile Administration^[a] (Korean: 미싸일총국) is the North Korean special bureau that oversees the development of missiles for the Korean People's Army (KPA).^[b]

DPRK Missile Administration
미싸일총국
Active	30 April 2016; 9 years ago (2016-04-30)
Country	North Korea
Allegiance	Workers' Party of Korea
Branch	Korean People's Army
Type	Military research and development
Size	Classified
Commanders
Head	General Jang Chang-ha[1]
Deputy head	General Kim Jong-sik[1]
Insignia
Flag	Front: Back:
Insignia used by ICBMS

Missile Administration
Chosŏn'gŭl	미싸일총국
Hancha	미싸일總局
Revised Romanization	Missail Chongguk
McCune–Reischauer	Missail Ch'ongguk

History

The bureau was observed on the venue of the enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea held on 7 February 2023 by showing its own flag and it was likely established in November 2022.^[5][6]

Major members

On a silo launch test for short-range ballistic missile Hwasong-11A (KN-23) on 19 March 2023, Kim Jong-sik and Jang Chang-ha were presumed to be the members of the new agency.^[1]

Uniform

On military parade of 75th anniversary of KPA's founding, the soldiers wearing Missile General Bureau uniform and patch were observed. The soldiers wearing MGU were standing next to the KPA soldiers on mobile transporter erector launcher for Hwasong-11A (KN-23). At the same time, three different flags with red colored background were observed, too.^[7]

Missile tests conducted

Date	Type of missile launched	Additional notes	Reference(s)
18 February 2023	Hwasong-15	The test was guided by the 1st Red Flag Hero Company affiliated with the Missile Administration (then Missile General Bureau). According to the Korean Central News Agency, the company "has rich launching experience among the units operating ICBMs".	[8]
9 March 2023	Hwasong-11D (six missiles)	The missiles were fired by the 8th Fire Attack Company. These missiles were later identified as Hwasong-11D, although North Korea initially did not name it.	[9][10][11]
16 March 2023	Hwasong-17	Third test-fire of Hwasong-17.	[12]
13 April 2023	Hwasong-18	The 2nd Red Flag Company affiliated with Missile General Bureau conducted the test. It is the first test-fire of Hwasong-18.	[13]
12 July 2023	Hwasong-18	The test was organized by the 2nd Red Flag Company affiliated with Missile General Bureau. This is the second test launch of Hwasong-18.	[14]
18 December 2023	Hwasong-18	The 2nd Red Flag Company affiliated with General Missile Bureau guided the test. This is the third test launch of Hwasong-18.	[3]
14 January 2024	Hwasong-16A (presumed)	The missile was launched from the first test site of Hwasong-18.	[11][15][16]
24 January 2024	Pulhwasal-3-31	First test-fire of Pulhwasal-3-31. According to North Korea, it is "under development".	[17]
2 February 2024	Hwasal-1 Ra-3 and Pyoljji-1-2	North Korea did not name these missiles. The cruise missile was test-fired to test super-large warhead.	[18][19][20]
2 April 2024	Hwasong-16B	First test-fire of Hwasong-16B.	[21]
20 April 2024	Hwasal-1 Ra-3 and Pyoljji-1-2	According to North Korea, the test-fire of Hwasal-1 Ra-3 was conducted to test super-large warhead.	[22][23]
17 May 2024	Hwasong-11D	According to North Korea, the missile was fired to test new autonomous guidance technology.	[24][25]
26 June 2024	MIRV test vehicle based on the Hwasong-16's first stage	The test-fire was conducted to test multiple independently-targeted reentry vehicles. North Korea claimed a successful launch, however, according to South Korea and Japan, the test was a failure. The nosecone of the MIRV test vehicle closely resembles that of Hwasong-17.	[26][27][28]
1 July 2024	Hwasong-11C-4.5	First test-fire of Hwasong-11C-4.5. North Korea stated that the missile was launched with a simulated 4.5 tons warhead to verify its flight stability and target accuracy at the range of 90–500 km (56–311 mi).	[29]
18 September 2024	Hwasong-11C-4.5 and Hwasal-1	Second test-fire of Hwasong-11C-4.5. North Korea also test-fired the upgraded version of the "strategic" cruise missile Hwasal-1 along with Hwasong-11C-4.5 in this test.	[19][30]
31 October 2024	Hwasong-19	First test-fire of Hwasong-19. The test broke the apogee record for a North Korean missile test (as of November 2024).	[31][32]
6 January 2025	Hwasong-16B	Second test-fire of Hwasong-16B.	[33][34][35]
25 January 2025	Sea-to-ground strategic cruise missiles	North Korean state media did not mention the missile's official designation.	[36]
20 March 2025	Latest anti-aircraft missile	North Korea did not name the missile.	[37]
28–29 April 2025	Unknown	North Korea only confirmed its participation in the Choe Hyon destroyer's weapon systems test without specifying the missile fired by the Missile Administration.	[38]
23 August 2025	Two types of new air defence missiles	These air defence missiles have "superior combat capability", as well as "unique and special technology".	[39]
22 October 2025	Hypersonic projectiles	The launch may involve Hwasong-11C-4.5 or Hwasong-11E.	[40][41][42]

Organization

The Missile Administration has two organizations to supervise missile tests:

• 1st Red Flag Hero Company (제1붉은기영웅중대)
• 2nd Red Flag Company (제2붉은기중대)

The Missile Administration also has General Academy of Chemical Materials in their organization.^[43]

Notes

1. Formerly called Missile General Bureau and General Missile Bureau in English.^[2][3]
2. It is also likely to be the operator for the ballistic missiles that are capable of carrying nuclear warheads in the KPA since 2023 via the report from Yonhap on 17 March 2023.^[4]