Democratic People's Republic of Korea has at its disposal a short-range ballistic missile designated as Hwasong-11D. Similar to the Hwasong-11Ga ballistic missile (better known as KN-23) but smaller, Hwasong-11D has a firing range of 100 to 180 kilometers, and can ascend at an altitude of 50 kilometers during its flight along a quasi-ballistic trajectory.
The defining feature of the Hwasong-11D is its compact dimensions: one launcher can fit up to four missiles inside the launch canisters, Army Recognition notes as it analyzes the video released lately by KCNA, the official media agency of North Korea.
Read more: Half N.Korean KN-23 Missiles Exploded Mid-Flight in Ukraine – Reuters
Particularly, the video portrays the Korean dictator Kim Jong Un inspecting one of the factories that specializes in the production of missile weapons. Although the Hwasong-11Ds themselves were not featured in these shots, instead something no less important was demonstrated: dozens of mobile launchers for these missiles.
Previously, Hwasong-11D has appeared a few times during military drills in DPRK. But now the Koreans claim they have scaled up the production of this type of missile and its launchers significantly. The news is a dangerous signal not only in the context of the geopolitical situation on the Korean Peninsula, but also considering russia's war against Ukraine. For a reminder, the larger version of this weapon, the KN-23, has made headlines in January–February 2024 when russian forces used them for missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
As the authors at Army Recognition emphasize, the Hwasong-11D is difficult to intercept due to its relatively low flight trajectory and has increased accuracy which "means fewer missiles may be needed to effectively neutralize a target."
On a note from Defense Express, considering that the accuracy was the pitfall encountered by russians when using KN-23s in Ukraine, they could opt to its smaller counterpart, especially if it can be mass-produced in sufficient quantities. Although hypothetical, the possibility of Hwasong-11D reaching the Ukrainian battlefield should not be ruled out.
An effective countermeasure would be for Kyiv and its partners to acquire more air defense systems with anti-missile capability, such as Patriot, THAAD, or SAMP/T. That is exactly what Ukraine's allies were trying to do recently, with Germany committing to search for potential donors of Patriots for the Ukrainian Air Force.
Read more: Canada Contributes $76 mln to Germany's Effort to Supply Ukraine with Air Defense
