A report from Jane’s by IHS Markit on Tuesday says that North Korea has tapped technology and hardware from foreign sources in developing a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that was tested in November.
The report, which first appeared in Jane’s Intelligence Review, follows similar findings from other analysts that Pyongyang accessed Soviet-era missile hardware and know-how in developing a working ICBM faster than Western intelligence agencies expected.
“It is highly likely that North Korea made use of foreign knowledge, technology or hardware in the development of the Hwasong-15 ICBM,” missile experts Markus Schiller and Nick Hansen wrote in their report for the defense and intelligence specialist.
Some experts believe the Hwasong-15 is already capable of hitting the continental US. Four of the large ICBMs were displayed at a North Korean military parade on February 8.
“Given the limited time and test resource available to North Korea, it is highly unlikely that North Korea could design, develop, engine test and integrate the components into … intercontinental missile systems without external assistance,” the analysts noted in their report.
Resembles Soviet UR-100 rockets
The report goes on to say that “the design of the Hwasong-15 missile is similar in some respects to the Soviet UR-100 family and there is a clear resemblance between the Hwasong-15 first-stage engine and the Soviet RD-250 engine.”
However, based on the information available in open sources, Jane’s can’t say with certainty when the technology transfer took place. “The UR-100 family of missiles and the RD-250 engine have been in existence for decades,” said Neil Ashdown, deputy editor of Jane’s Intelligence Review.
Some information was online
“North Korea could have acquired information about them from a range of sources, including some available online,” Ashdown said. “Even if North Korea did acquire hardware relating to these systems, we cannot say with any confidence where that would have come from, and more importantly when. That does not mean a transfer did not take place — just that we cannot prove that based on the information we have.”
The report adds that the successful integration of a higher-energy liquid propellant engine into the Hwasong-15 with minimal observed testing suggests that North Korea could do the same with another missile. This is said to raise a possibility that there may be further, as yet undisclosed, liquid propellant systems in development, which might emerge over the course of 2018.
so what if the Soviets did help them I am glad they can defend themselves as they will not use them against America unless they are directly threatened and attacked by America by their occupied southern neighbour or a carrier strike group ‘shock and awe’ style.
Russia, China and Iran all participate or give whole pieces of equipment. That is NO news.
NoKo will be able to blackmail S KOrea!
well it seems at the moment North and South Korea are just seeking peace and you know how peace isn’t profitable for America so Trump will try to throw a monkey wrench in that.
let the Arm race be stopped. And unify the two countries for the betterment of their people. being great simply means helping humanity ,and not creating wars that will never bring good to its people.
they got the tech from Ukraine
It’s not a crime for North Koreans to defend themselves,i support them.
Bennett Mbelu
Subsequently the region will neither be "livable" nor "secure"!
South Korea is occupied? What an idiot.
What’s wrong with north Korea making missiles? Its their responsibility to defend their sovereignty because USA is carnivorous state, it has led to loss of millions and millions of lives through their proxy wars.
Why two Korea are not able to unite as one ,it is because of America’s interest. So every Independent loving people of the world should support their intention hole heartedly with out delay.it will be one kind of human
Me gesture.
Direct transfer of knowledge from Rusia. NK’s ICBM system is more advanced than you can imagine, almost similar to Rusia.
Occupied South Korea? They became so rich now it shows American occupation is good he he