Hwasong-12B
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| Hwasong-12B | |
|---|---|
| Type | Intermediate-range ballistic missile |
| Place of origin | North Korea |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Korean People's Army Strategic Force |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | North Korea |
| Specifications | |
| Warhead | Hypersonic glide vehicle |
| Propellant | Liquid-fueled |
Operational range | Over 6,000 km (3,700 mi) |
Launch platform | 6-axle TEL |
The Hwasong-12B[a] (Korean: 《화성-12나》형; lit. 'Mars Type 12B') is a North Korean single-stage, liquid-fueled hypersonic, intermediate-range ballistic missile. Unveiled in July 2023 during a military exhibition, Hwasong-12B is the second North Korean ballistic missile capable of carrying hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) after Hwasong-8, as well as the third hypersonic missile of North Korea.
| Images of the Hwasong-12B | |
|---|---|
 The information board with official name | |
| The missile and its TEL |
The Hwasong-12B is a single-stage missile, powered by a liquid-propelled engine, carried by 6-axle transporter erector launchers.[1][3] Although Hwasong-12B has never undergone flight testing, its range is estimated to be over 6,000 km (3,700 mi).[4]
The hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) of Hwasong-12B is simillar in shape to the vehicle used by the solid-fueled Hwasong-16B.[5] It is likely mounted on a shortened,[6] or a standard Hwasong-12 booster.[7] Compared with Hwasong-8, the HGV of Hwasong-12B has some differences in fuselage and control fins. It is the second ballistic missile of North Korea capable of carrying hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) after Hwasong-8 (launched in September 2021), and the third type of hypersonic missile overall after it and Hwasong-12A (tested in January 2022).[8]
History
North Korea first test-fired missile with hypersonic glide vehicle in September 2021, with Hwasong-8.[9] According to German analyst Norbert Brügge, North Korea displayed two types of hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) in a military parade on 25 April 2022.[10]
Hwasong-12B made its public debut on 26 July 2023, during a military exhibition. At the time of debut, a bilingual information board in Korean and English was displayed to Kim Jong Un and Sergei Shoigu with official name.[8][11] The next day, North Korea displayed four Hwasong-12B missiles at a military parade.[1][12]
It is possible that the Hwasong-12B was renamed from Hwasong-8 between September 2021 and July 2023.[6] However, it seems unlikely, as the Hwasong-8 may be the name of the prototype hypersonic missile, and Hwasong-12B is planned to be the operational product.[8] Although there has been no known test for Hwasong-12B so far,[1] at least two Hwasong-12B missiles were spotted in October 2024 during Kim Jong Un's visit to a missile base,[2] suggesting that the missile may be deployed without any flight testing.[13]