The DPRK reported a successful test of a new missile called Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5. According to the declarations, it received a huge warhead of 4.5 tons, with a range of 320 km. The first known test of this missile took place on September 18. According to the photos it was successful.
It is known that the missile hit the target area. This is evidenced by a number of photos published by the DPRK news agency.
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The Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5 is a part of the Hwasong-11 missile family. It includes Hwasong-11Ga - KN-23 and Hwasong-11Na - KN-24 missiles. The Da version is a variant of the KN-23, which is supplied by North Korea to the russian federation and used for strikes against Ukraine.
This may lead to the assumption that the DPRK has developed a more powerful version and will offer it to russia. Although this can be truth, the development of a more powerful version of the KN-23 missile began quite a while ago.
In particular, an enlarged version of this missile with the Hwasongpho-11Da index was first demonstrated in March 2021. It was announced that it has a 2500 kg warhead and a range of 600 km. This version is about 1.5 meters longer than the standard one.
It should also be added that the Hwasongpho-11Da with an almost doubled warhead was officially tested for the second time. Its first launch was announced on July 1 this year, but there were no photos.
In other words, the development of the Hwasongpho-11Da is not really related to the fact that North Korea supplies ballistic missiles to russia. But the fact is that russia may be interested in this version of the KN-23. For the Kremlin, the range parameter is not as important as the ability to deliver powerful warhead. It is worth recalling the proposal of the former head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, to install a FAB-9000 bomb on the Soyuz rocket carrier to strike at Ukraine.
Taking into account the fact that the targets for KN-23 are cities, with this version, this missile can be a very threatening tool for russian terrorist attacks. At the same time, the enemy has enough range of 320 km to attack not only border or frontline cities, but also Kyiv, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, and Poltava.
Earlier Defense Express reported that the SSU drones has destroyed North Korean missiles in Attack on russian ammunition depot in Voronezh.
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