CNS Resources on North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Program:
| 1960-1979 1980-1989 1990-1991 1992-1993 |
1994-1995 1996-1998 1999 |
North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Program
Early 1980s
North Korea is indigenously producing many parts of the Chinese HY-2 missile except for the sustainer motors and guidance systems, which are still provided by China.
Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jane’s Soviet Intelligence Review, May 1989, p.203-207.
1980
Replacement of the HY-1 by the HY-2 missile is believed to be completed.
Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jane’s Soviet Intelligence Review, May 1989, p.203-207.
1981
North Korea and Egypt agree to cooperate on development of ballistic missiles. Egypt transfers Soviet-built Scud-B missiles and MAZ 543 transporter-erector-launchers (TEL) to North Korea.
Joseph Bermudez, Jane’s Defence Weekly, 10 April 1993, pp.20, 22.
(Note: It is believed that none of the transferred missiles were ever test-fired or deployed, but they may have been used for system familiarization and training. It is also possible that the missiles, generally thought to have been indigenously produced Scud-B prototypes test-fired in 1984, were in fact missiles obtained from Egypt in 1981)
21 August 1981
Egypt and North Korea sign an agreement for technological cooperation and exchange through 1983. The technology in question may have included missile-related technologies.
KCNA (Pyongyang), 21 August 1981; in FBIS-APA-81-162, 21 August 1981, p.D7. Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jane’s Intelligence Review, October 1992, pp.452-458.
5 April 1983
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak signs an agreement in Pyongyang to extend the 1981 technological exchange agreement and discusses arms purchases. The agreement contains several references to “other fields as to be agreed upon by the governments of the two countries.”
KCNA (Pyongyang), 5 April 1983, pp.D11-D13; in FBIS-APA-83-067, 6 April 1983.
6 September 1983
Egyptian Defense Minister Marshal Abdal-Halim Abu Ghazhala, leading a military delegation, arrives in Pyongyang.
KCNA (Pyongyang), 6 September 1983; in FBIA-APA-83-174, 7 September 1983, p.D11. KCNA (Pyongyang), 7 September 1983; in FBIS-APA-83-175, 8 September 1983, pp.D11-D15.
26 October 1983
Iranian Prime Minister Ruhollah Musavi and Defense Minister Colonel Mohammed Salimi return from a three-day visit to North Korea during which arrangements are made for the long-term Iranian financing of North Korea’s Scud-B development program in exchange for the option to purchase production models.
Tehran Domestic Service, 27 October 1983; in FBIS-NES-83, 28 October 1983. Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jane’s Intelligence Review, October 1992, pp.452-458.
April 1984
North Korea conducts its first successful test of a Scud-B missile. During 1984, additional tests are conducted with at least two known failures.
Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jane’s Soviet Intelligence Review, August 1990, pp.343-345. Asia-Pacific Defense Reporter, April 1991, p.24. Yonhap (Seoul), 24 June 1993, p.19; in FBIS-EAS-93-120, 24 June 1993.
September 1984
Since the April 1984 test-launch, there have been at least two additional confirmed launches of North Korean-built Scud-B prototypes from the Nodong test facility
Pukan, June 1985, pp.132-141; in JPRS-KAR-85-070, 31 October 1985, pp.1-9. Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jane’s Defence Weekly, 10 April 1993; pp.20, 220
October 1984
Yuri Geifman and Iranian businessman Babeck Seroush are indicted in New York for conspiracy to smuggle to North Korea components used in missile guidance.
Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and W. Seth Carus, Jane’s Soviet Intelligence Review, April 1989, pp.177-181.
9 November 1984
North Korean Defense Minister Oh Jin-u arrives in Egypt for a 12-day visit during which an agreement to provide technical assistance to the Egyptian SA-2b Mod 1 surface-to-air-missile (SAM) program may have been reached.
KCNA (Pyongyang), 8 November 1984; in FBIS-APA, 8 November 1984, pp.D19-D20. KCNA (Pyongyang), 21 November 1984; in FBIS-APA, 27 November 1984, p.D14. Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jane’s Intelligence Review, October 1992, pp.452-458.
1985
In a bilateral accord, Iran agrees to finance the reverse-engineering of the Scud-B by North Korea and offers assistance in the covert procurement of Western critical technologies in exchange for production technology and missiles.
Kenneth Timmerman, Mednews, 21 December 1992, p.5.
1985
Pilot production of the Scud-B is believed to have begun, replacing that of North Korea’s Scud-B prototype. A special North Korean missile unit, derived from a special test and evaluation unit believed to have been stationed at To-kol, is established.
Joseph Bermudez, Jane’s Defence Weekly, 10 April 1993, pp.20,22.
1986
The special North Korean missile unit becomes operational.
Joseph Bermudez, Jane’s Defence Weekly, 10 April 1993, pp.20, 22.
December 1986
The UNDP transfers control of the completed integrated circuit pilot factory, the Pyongyang Semiconductor Manufacturing Factory, to North Korea’s Electronics Institute.
Terminal Report on Project: DP/DRK/79/003; Establishment of Digital Bi-Polar Integrated Circuit Plant in DPR of Korea, (ET&T Development Corporation Ltd.: New Delhi).
7 December 1986
The Iranian parliament restructures all of North Korea’s $170 million oil purchase debt to Iran. The debt will be paid back over the next five years starting retroactively from January 1985. During this period, Iran will deduct 70 percent of the cost of North Korean merchandise purchased from the debt, paying only the remaining 30 percent in cash.
IRNA (Tehran), 7 December 1986; in FBIS-NES, 10 December 1986, p.15.
1987
Scud-B production facilities are established near Pyongyang with an annual capacity of 50 missiles.
Yonhap (Seoul), 2 February 1991; in FPRS-TND-91-003, 25 February 1991, pp.6-7. Asia-Pacific Defense Reporter, April 1991, p.24. Hanguk Ilbo (Seoul), 8 February 1991, p.8; in JPRS-TND-91-008, 31 May 1991, pp.7-9.
28 January 1987
South Korean Defense Minister Yi Ki-paek announces that North Korea has conducted a secret test of a long-range guided missile [Scud-C prototype] north of the city of Wonsan in Hamgyong-Namdo. South Korean defense ministry officials refuse to release details of the missile test.
Korea Herald, 29 January 1987, p.1; in FBIS-APA-87-020, 30 January 1987, p.E4.
June 1987
In response to a Reagan administration protest over the sale of HY-2 Silkworm missiles to Iran, China denies that it made the sale, indicating that the missiles originated in North Korea.
New York Times, 7 June 1987, pp.A1, A15.
June 1987
As a continuation of their 1985 bilateral accord, Iran and North Korea complete a $500 million military assistance agreement, which includes the purchase of 90 to 100 North Korean Scud missiles, 12 TELs, and an unknown number of North Korean-built HY-2 Silkworm missiles.
Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jane’s Soviet Intelligence Review, May 1989, pp.203-207. Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jane’s Intelligence Review, April 1992, pp.147-152.
10 June 1987
North Korean denies Western press reports that it is acting as a conduit for Chinese Silkworm missile deliveries to Iran.
KCNA (Pyongyang), 10 June 1987; in FBIS-EAS-87-111, 10 June 1987, p.C1.
July 1987
Deliveries of Scud-B missiles from the Iranian order begin. The deliveries are believed to have been made by sea.
Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jane’s Soviet Intelligence Review, August 1990, pp.343-345.
November 1987
US intelligence satellites spot Silkworm missiles at a North Korean port.
Wall Street Journal, 21 December 1987, p.1.
14 December 1987
US intelligence satellite photographs reveal that the Silkworm missiles spotted in November 1987 are now gone, as is an Iranian vessel that is known to have made previous Silkworm deliveries to Iran.
Wall Street Journal, 21 December 1987, p.9.
1988
Iran begins limited-scale assembly of North Korean Scud-B missiles from “knock-down kits” at a facility near Isfahan, Iran’s largest ballistic missile plant.
Kenneth Timmerman, Mednews, 21 December 1992, pp.4-5.
1988
North Korea establishes a Scud-B regiment within the IV Corps in the southwest of the country. One source indicates that North Korea deploys Scud missiles at Singye, northern Hwanghae Province, which is located in the II Corps area.
Joseph Bermudez, Jane’s Defence Weekly, 10 April 1993, pp.20, 22. Yonhap (Seoul), 24 June 1993; in JPRS-TND-93-020, 28 June 1993, p.1.
1988
North Korea begins its Scud-B upgrade [Scud-C] program to double the missile’s range to 600km.
Asia-Pacific Defense Reporter, April 1991, p.24.
January 1988
Iran purchases 40 Scud-B missiles from North Korea. The missiles are employed during the War of the Cities from February 1988 to April 1988.
Steven Emerson, Wall Street Journal, 10 July 1991, p.A12.
(Note: These missiles may be part of the June 1987 purchase rather than an additional purchase. This may also be a reference to one of the missile deliveries taking place from July 1987 to February 1988)
19 January 1988
North Korea denies allegations made in the US news media that Chinese-made Silkworm missiles are being supplied to Iran via North Korea.
KCNA (Pyongyang), 19 January 1988; in FBIS-NES-88-011, 19 January 1988, pp.14-15.
Early February 1988
Deliveries from the June 1987 North Korean Scud-B sale to Iran are completed.
Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jane’s Soviet Intelligence Review, August 1990, pp.343-345.
Late February 1988
According to British and US military sources, the Iranian ship Iran Teyfouri delivers 80 HY-2 Silkworm and 40 Scud-B missiles from North Korea and China to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.
AFP (Paris), 1 April 1988; in FBIS-NES-88-063, 1 April 1988, p.45.
14 April 1988
Iranian First Deputy Defense Colonel Rahimi states, “We have also succeeded in manufacturing missiles with a range of 324km.”
Tehran Domestic Service, 14 April 1988; in FBIS-NES, 15 April 1988, p.49.
(Note: The range given is consistent with a North Korean-upgraded Scud-B missile. This could be an indicator that Iran is assembling the Scud-Bs from components delivered from North Korea rather than receiving whole systems)
October 1988
Partially in response to North Korean efforts to acquire missile technology, the Japanese MITI bans the export of missile-related components abroad.
Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and W. Seth Carus, Jane’s Soviet Intelligence Review, April 1989, pp.177-181.
Late 1988
North Korea and Iran establish a secret joint military commission to facilitate military cooperation.
Steven Emerson, Wall Street Journal, 10 July 1991, p.A12.
1989
North Korea begins development of the Nodong intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).
Yu Yong-won, Choson Ilbo (Seoul), 20 March 1994, p.4; in JPRS-TND-94-008, 1 April 1994, pp.12-13.
1989
Anritsu Corp., Yokohama Machinery Trading Co., and one other Japanese company allegedly sell spectrum analyzers to North Korea via China.
Terry McCarthy, Independent (London), 15 January 1994. International Herald Tribune, 20 January 1994. BMD Monitor, 28 January 1994, p.40.
1989
Pilot production of the North Korean Scud-C begins.
Joseph Bermudez, Jane’s Defence Weekly, 10 April 1993, pp.20, 22.
(Note: Scud-C production is believed to have supplanted Scud-B production. However, if one considers that a successful test of the Scud-C is not reported until June 1990, Scud-C production at this time is likely to have been quite limited)
1989
According to retired Israeli Brigadier General Aharon Levran, now an independent military analyst, Egypt turns to North Korea for assistance in upgrading its arsenal of Soviet-supplied Scud missiles. The nature of the assistance is not known, but may consist of provision of spare parts or installation of improved components, including guidance.
Korea Times, 30 December 1989, p.4; in JPRS-TND-90-002, 17 January 1990, p.12.
(Note: It has been five years since the Egypt-North Korean deals of the early 1980s. It is as yet unclear what brought on the five-year lapse in the relationship)
6 February 1989
A CPSU Central Committee top secret report, special file number P147/75, states that “most recently, reports have begun to be actively circulated in the United States on the DPRK’s (North Korea) creation of a chemical warfare potential, using missiles manufactured under license from us as delivery systems. It has emerged from information from our embassy in Pyongyang that this report is not without foundation.”
Izvestia (Moscow), 21 November 1992, p.7; in JPRS-TND-92-045, 7 December 1992, pp.17-18.
May 1989
North Korea and Iran reportedly reach an agreement for the continued delivery of Scud-B missiles, and an extension of Iranian financing of North Korea’s Scud development program.
Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., “Iran’s Missile Developments,” International Missile Bazaar: The New Supplier’s Network, ed. William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, (Boulder, San Francisco and Oxford: Westview Press, 1994), p.57.
October 1989
Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Mohsen Rezai travels to Pyongyang to meet with North Korean leader Kim Il-sung regarding final plans for the expansion of the Isfahan missile complex, and to address the development project for an extended-range Scud-B [Scud-C]. According to the Iran Times, Rezai said that he had “signed an agreement covering exchange of training and war experiences, transfer of military technology and weapons, and scientific cooperation.”
Iran Times, 12 October 1989. Kenneth Timmerman, Mednews, 21 December 1992, p.5.
29 December 1989
Israeli military sources say that Syria is approaching North Korea for assistance in the development of SSMs, after China, under US pressure, withdrew from a similar deal. The sources also indicate that Egypt and North Korea are engaged in a project to develop a missile based on the Soviet Scud missile; part of this project is being developed in Egypt. Retired Israeli Brigadier General Aharon Levran says that published reports indicate that North Korea is assisting Iran in the development of an indigenous SSM.
Korea Times, 30 December 1989, p.4; in JPRS-TND-90-002, 17 January 1990, p.12.
Late 1980s
According to North Korea’s First Lieutenant Yim Yong-son, who defected to South Korea on 11 August 1993, North Korea has completed construction of two underground long-range missile launch bases, one at Mount [Komdok], Hwadae-gun, North Hamgyong Province and another at Okp’yong, Munch’on City, Kangwon Province.
KBS-1 Radio Network (Seoul), 24 August 1993; in FBIS-EAS-93-162, 24 August 1993, p.23. Larry DiRita, Wall Street Journal Europe, 26 August 1993.
(Note: The locations given are near Scud development facilities on North Korea’s east coast. The sites are not related to North Korea’s Scud regiment, which is reportedly located in the IV Corps area near Sariwon in the southwest of the country)
