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The Hwasong-16B[a] (Korean: 《화성포-16나》형; Hancha: 火星砲-16乙型; lit. Mars Artillery Type 16B) is a North Korean intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).
| Hwasong-16B | |
|---|---|
| Type | Intermediate-range ballistic missile |
| Place of origin |  North Korea |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Korean People's Army Strategic Force |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 2023 |
| Manufacturer | North Korea |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 20 to 21 meters (Estimate) |
| Diameter | 2.1 to 2.3m |
| Propellant | Two-stage Solid-fuel rocket |
Launch platform | 7-axle Transporter erector launcher |
A parade on 10 October 2020 unveiled the existence of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) larger than the Hwasong-15. It was unofficially dubbed the "Hwasong-16" as part of the Hwasong line of missiles, though subsequent analysis of footage indicated that it was officially called Hwasong-17.[4]
In November 2023, North Korea announced static ground tests of rocket motors for a solid-fueled IRBM.[5]
After the January test with MaRV version, on 19 March 2024, Kim Jong Un oversaw an initial solid-fuel engine test in preparation for another launch.[6] Hwasong-16B officially made its public debut on 2 April 2024, with a flight test. This launch was made with a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) payload akin to the one mounted on the Hwasong-8. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) claimed the missile traveled 1.000 km and reached a maximum altitude of 101.1 km (62.8 mi), and subsequently engaged in a pull-up maneuver reaching an altitude of 72.3 km (44.9 mi). South Korean military assessments said it flew 600 km, while Japan's Ministry of Defense estimated a range of 650 km, suggesting the HGV test wasn't successful. It was launched from a seven-axle wheeled transporter erector launcher (TEL), with an open-front canister, which in its stored state, has a two-part clam-shell cover on each side. The missile is cold launched with a gas generator at the end of the launch tube, popping the missile up prior to ignition.[7] The launch coincided with a joint US/Japan/South Korea trilateral flight exercise.[8][9]
Another Hwasong-16B was test-fired on 6 January 2025. North Korea called the missile as "new-type intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile" without mentioning official name. According to North Korea, the missile's engine body used a new composite carbon fiber material. The launch was supervised by Kim Jong Un and his daughter.[10][11] The missile seen in the January 2025 test is identical to the Hwasong-16B missile tested in April 2024.[12]
List of tests
| Attempt | Date | Location | Pre-launch announcement | Outcome | Additional notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 April 2024, 6:53 am Pyongyang Standard Time[13][14] | Outskirts of Pyongyang[13][15] | None | Success | First test where the missile was named as Hwasong-16B, warhead separated from missile, reaching a peak of 101.1 km (62.8 mi), then a secondary peak at 72.3 km (44.9 mi) before landing in the Sea of Japan. Maximum speed at Mach 5.[6]
Kim Jong Un supervised the launch, with senior officials attending.[6] |
| 2 | 6 January 2025, around 12:00 pm Pyongyang Standard Time[16] | Outskirts of Pyongyang[11] | None | Success | Japanese and South Korean data showed the missile flew approximately 1,100 km (680 mi). Japan also stated that the missile's apogee was around 100 km (62 mi).[16][17] North Korean data showed the missile flew 1,500 km (930 mi), with a first apogee of 99.8 km (62.0 mi) and a secondary apogee of 42.5 km (26.4 mi). The maximum speed was Mach 12.[10] However, according to South Korean military, the KCNA's report was most likely exaggerated, as South Korea did not detect a secondary apogee and the detected range was around 1,100 km (680 mi).[11] |
Responses after Hwasong-16B's maiden flight
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace researcher Ankit Panda, described the transition to solid-fuel rockets as a heavily favored play by Kim, noting that "There are obvious strategic advantages to an all-solid-fuel force for them in the form of greater promptness, responsiveness, and survivability,"[9]
The launch was condemned by the United Kingdom as a breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions.[9]
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the launch as "damaging for regional and international peace and stability".[14]
South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed a joint investigation ongoing with the U.S., and subsequently on 3 April 2024 it seized a ship off the coast of South Korea in violation of North Korean sanctions.[9]
MaRV variant
Prior to the April 2024 test of Hwasong-16B with hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), in January 2024 a variant of Hwasong-16B with maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) was tested. The official name of this variant may be Hwasong-16A (Korean: 화성-16가; lit. Mars Type 16A),[18] but it has not been officially confirmed.[15][19]
Design and development
The MaRV variant of Hwasong-16B made its public debut on 14 January 2024, when a flight test was conducted by North Korea. South Korea said that the missile had flew 1,000 km, and Japanese data showed it traveled at least 500 km at the maximum altitude of 50 km. The missile is not officially named;[20] it used the first two stages of the Hwasong-18 ICBM's solid rocket motors. A solid-fuel IRBM would be able to threaten U.S. military bases such as on Guam as far as 3,300 km away from North Korea, while having the same advantages of being easier to move and quicker to launch than the liquid-fueled Hwasong-12 IRBM. North Korean media also claimed the missile was equipped with a hypersonic warhead, which was similar to the conical, finned maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) payload used on the Hwasong-8's MaRV version. Such a payload would complicate ballistic missile defenses due to its lower altitude flight path keeping it below radar coverage longer and the ability to perform terminal maneuvers.[21][22][23]
It is possible that if the HGV payload-equipped version of the missile is designated Hwasong-16B, then the previous MaRV payload-equipped version could be designated as Hwasong-16A.[7][15]
List of tests
MIRV test vehicle
The two-stage solid-propellant booster, which was used for the tests of Hwasong-16A and Hwasong-16B, was unofficially called as Hwasong-16. It is based on the first two stages of Hwasong-18 solid-fueled ICBM.[12]
On 26 June 2024, North Korea test-fired a missile using the first stage of Hwasong-16 to test multiple independently-targeted reentry vehicles (MIRVs). The missile that had the first stage to be used in this test was not officially named, instead, North Korean state media depicting it as "an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile" and claimed the test was a success, while South Korea and Japan claim the missile exploded before releasing any warheads.[24][25]
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