Hwasong-11B

The Hwasong-11B is a missile that bears similarities to the American ATACMS and South Korean KTSSM,^[7] especially in external resemblance, which is similar to ATACMS. It likely fills a similar role of supporting battlefield operations. The missile's 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][8][9]

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 the Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warhead. It is likely to replace older liquid-fueled North Korean SRBMs, such as 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][8][9][10][11]}

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.^[12] The Hwasong-11B can also be launched using a four-axle truck chassis.^[13]

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.^[14]

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.^[14]

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.^[15] Between the March 2020 test and January 2022 test, North Korea featured Hwasong-11B in military parades on 10 October 2020 and 14 January 2021,^[16][17] as well as the "Self-Defence 2021" military exhibition in October 2021, where North Korea revealed official name of the missile.^[18]

North Korea also unveiled a tan-coloured version of Hwasong-11B during the "Self-Defence 2021" military exhibition.^[12][18]

Hwasong-11B also appeared in military parades on 25 April 2022,^[19] 8 February 2023,^[20] as well as on 27 July 2023, when North Korea unveiled truck-type TEL of Hwasong-11B.^[13] A further test-fire took place on 30 August 2023.^[20][21]

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.^[22]: 268

• 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