North Korea showcased a new air-launched weapon on Sunday that bears striking similarities to Western-made cruise missiles, particularly the German-Swedish Taurus.
At least, in appearance. No information was released about the new weapon’s capabilities.
An advanced cruise missile would significantly extend the attack range of Pyongyang’s Su-25 fighters and allow them to strike key facilities at a safer distance from US and South Korean air defenses.
State media published photos of the unidentified missile in Kalma Airfield as Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, visited the facility for a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the country’s air force.
The new missile can be spotted mounted to a Sukhoi Su-25 Grach fighter, a Soviet-era aircraft, behind Kim as the leader shakes hands with a military official.
Another, wider shot of the hangar also shows the dismounted missile next to a Su-25.
Speculation about the missile began after it appeared at the event. It could be a Russian-made system, a copy of a Western missile, or a decoy staged to make North Korea’s air forces appear more threatening.
The missile’s length and rectangular shape resemble cruise missiles such as the Taurus KEPD-350, the British-French Storm Shadow, and US firm Anduril’s Barracuda 500M. A cruise missile is designed to destroy hardened positions with a large warhead and fly within the atmosphere, powered by jet engines.
Russia, which has been steadily building close military ties with North Korea, also possesses the Kh-59 Mk2, a cruise missile with a similar look.
The North Korean missile’s appearance doesn’t exactly match any of these weapons. However, one feature stands out: a circular sensor or seeker appears to be fitted on its nose, jutting out in a manner similar to that of the Taurus.
Notably, South Korea also fields the Taurus, which can be loaded onto its F-15K Strike Eagles.
The Taurus, with an official range of about 300 miles, is designed to attack targets buried deep underground, making it useful for striking important sites such as bunkers or hardened structures.
At that distance, Seoul could easily hit North Korean facilities while keeping its fighters within its own territory.
The Storm Shadow and Kh-59 Mk2 are also thought to be able to strike from similar ranges, but their export versions are limited to about 155 miles and 180 miles, respectively. Both can also be outfitted to attack hardened targets.
Should North Korea now possess such technology, it would significantly enhance the strike capability of its Su-25s.
Pyongyang’s Su-25 attack jets are believed to have been primarily limited to short-range missions, such as supporting ground troops with close-range fire and executing tactical strikes at low altitudes.
It’s unclear if Pyongyang has acquired the know-how to make its own air-launched cruise missiles, and there’s no recorded evidence yet to emerge showing the missile in flight.
However, Western, Ukrainian, and South Korean authorities have repeatedly said that the Kremlin has been providing advanced military information and expertise to North Korea in exchange for weapons and troops to fight Ukraine.
The partnership particularly troubles Seoul, which has voiced grave concerns about the technological upgrades Pyongyang could receive as tensions surge between the two states.
At the ceremony attended by Kim, which state media said was held on Friday, North Korea featured a lineup of other air assets, including MiG-29 fighters, strike and reconnaissance uncrewed aerial systems, and missile launch ground vehicles.
Kim Ju Ae, the young daughter of the North Korean leader widely seen as being groomed to succeed her father, was also seen attending.
Saab, the Swedish firm that jointly develops the Taurus, declined to comment on a foreign country’s military capabilities when asked by Business Insider.
MBDA, the European firm partnered with Saab to make the Taurus, did not respond to a similar request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.
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