Top ten Points about North Korea's "Self-Defense" National Defense Exhibition, October-2021

On October 11, North Korea hosted the 2021 Self-Defense Exhibition. Local media reported that the exhibition showcases a wide range of weapons developed over the past five years to showcase the country's mighty military power. It appears that several new missiles were launched at the event. In particular, the missiles North Korea had recently tested, Leader Kim Jong Un said, was the exhibition, as well as a large military parade. They were showing the strength of the nation.

1. Kim Jong speech

• Kim Jong added that weapons are being developed for self-defense, not for war.
• Mr. Kim made the remarks at an extraordinary security demonstration during a dispute over several large missiles...
• North Korea recently tested what it claims is a new type of hypersonic and air defense missile.
• At the same time, South Korea recently tested its submarine-launched weapons.
• In a speech at the 2021 self-defense exhibition held in the North's capital, Pyongyang, Kim spoke about the military buildup in the South and said North Korea does not want to fight its neighbor.
• "We are not talking to anyone about the war. On the contrary, we are talking about the war itself and increasing the risk of war to defend national sovereignty," he said.

• Kim accused the United States of stirring up tensions between North and South Korea, including tanks surrounded by military equipment.
• He said North Korea does not have a "behavioral basis" for believing that the United States is not hostile.

2. North Korea held the "Self-Defense-2021" National Defense Development

On October 11th, North Korea held the "Self-Defense-2021" National Defense Development Exhibition at the Three Revolutionary Museums in Pyongyang. The new equipment that North Korea has successively tested and displayed in the military parade over the past few years has been exhibited at this exhibition. Some of the equipment is also the first exposure. Let's take a closer look at the new equipment that was unveiled at the show.

3. Strategic weapons and tactical weapons

The exhibition is mainly divided into two parts: strategic weapons and tactical weapons. The most attractive of strategic armaments is undoubtedly the vast Mars-16 intercontinental ballistic missile. The bomb is currently the largest in the Mars missile family and the only one that has not been launched and tested. It was only displayed at the military parade in 2020. The size of this bomb currently evaluated by various parties is about 25 to 26 meters in length and 2.5 meters in diameter,

which is similar to the size of the former Soviet Union SS-19 dagger liquid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. The carrier uses an 11-axle super-large particular carrier with two more axes than the Mars-15 intercontinental ballistic missile. In terms of configuration, Mars-16 is considered to be a two-stage liquid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. The first and second stages use multiple Baitoushan liquid-fuel rocket engines. According to the public information of the Korean Central News Agency, this engine has a single thrust of 80 tons. , Has done a continuous burning test for 200 seconds.

4. Mars -15

Mars -15 also participated in the exhibition this time, but there was no car, and the show was placed in bare bombs. Its size is smaller than that of Mars-16, with a length of about 22 meters and a diameter of about 2 to 2.4 meters. It is also a two-stage liquid bomb, and the Korean Central News Agency disclosed the power composition of the first stage. Two Baektusan liquid-fuel rocket engines with 80 tons thrust. The projectile was tested in 2017, and the normal optimal ballistic range is around 8,500 to 13,000 kilometers.

Next to the Mars -15 is the Mars -8 hypersonic missile, which was tested not long ago. This time it shows a precise warhead shape and is designed for a familiar wave rider. Moreover, it was displayed in conjunction with the vehicle at the exhibition. The 6-axle car used was the same as the Mars-12, and the details of the connection between the booster section and the warhead were the same as those of the Mars-12, further confirming that the bomb is Mars-12. Boost plus wave rider warhead. However, the superb reality of Mars-8 has not yet succeeded. In the test-fired by the Korean army on September 28, it only flew 200 kilometers, with a ballistic height of 30 kilometers, and its speed did not reach the superb standard. The boost of Mars 12 is the configuration of 4000 km-class ballistic missiles, so Mars -8 should still be in the preliminary exploration stage. The test launch is only to verify the initial design.

5. Three submarine-launched ballistic missiles

This time, three submarine-launched ballistic missiles were also presented to the exhibition. The largest one is the Polaris 5, which has not been tested. Its length is about 10 meters, and its diameter is about 2 meters. It was only displayed in the military parade before. Next to it is the first successful Polaris 1 submarine projectile with a range of about 1,300 kilometers. The one on the far right is exciting, it has never been made public, but obviously, it is also of the submarine projectile family.

The aerodynamic shape of the projectile is reminiscent of the KN-23 shaped like Iskander, but this submarine projectile uses a grid rudder, which may be a specially developed tactical submarine projectile. In addition, there is a mysterious radar behind the submarine projectile exhibition area. The antenna structure seems to be a phased array radar of the UHV band, which shows that North Korean radar workers are also exploring large-scale phased array and UHF band radar.

6. New type air defense missile body

The exhibition also showed the body of a new type of air defense missile that was tested not long ago. Although the launch vehicle of this missile is very similar to the S-300, the aerodynamic design of the interceptor itself is very similar to the Israeli David's sling. It is also identical to the aerodynamic layout of the Sam 3 interceptor in the hands of the People's Army. For example, there is a large booster, a complex design of 4 wings. It should be said that this multi-group wing design is still relatively rare in long-range air defense missiles.

The wing will increase the resistance of the missile. The aerodynamic rudder is not effective at high altitudes where the atmospheric density is low, so the 48N6 used in the S-300 series, Red 9, and Patriot are all polished projectiles, but there is a small wing on the tail. It is equipped with a gas rudder.

7. New cruise missiles

The exhibition also showed a new type of cruise missile that was tested not long ago. In this ground display, only one tail appeared, and a big take-off booster could be seen. The project was introduced in the previous article. Still, the rear side of the projectile and the white marking ring at the exhibition are not the same as the projected projectile, and the display may also be a modification.

8. Test projectile

9. Enhanced KN-23 Tactical Ballistic Missile

Other tactical weapons at the exhibition have frequently appeared in recent years, including KN-23 tactical ballistic missiles, enhanced KN-23 tactical ballistic missiles, and railway mobile KN-23 tactical ballistic missiles, which have not officially disclosed their model names. There are also 240mm, 300mm satellite-guided long fire and 600mm super large-caliber guided long to fire. In addition, the model name of the main projectile that resembled the American ATACMS tactical ballistic missile was also revealed at the exhibition: Mars-11 B.

10. The name of this main bomb is determined to be Mars-11 B

This "Self-Defense-2021" exhibition should be said to be a phased summary of North Korea's national defense construction in the past ten years. Some weapons at the show, especially ballistic missiles, have been tested, and many have actual combat capabilities. . Some parts are actually in the exploratory stage and are immature, such as Mars-8 and new anti-aircraft bombs, which will take a long time to complete. After completing the construction of a strategic and operational-level long-range strike system, North Korea's defense focus in the next phase may be based on improving individual strategic and long-range strike key models and shifting its focus to improving the survivability of the entire strike system. , Such as position construction and vehicle development.

For other conventional weapons, such as new tanks, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank missiles, and artillery, their next stage of R&D investment may also increase.