KN-11
SLBM
The KN-11 is a new North Korean submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM)
that is under development. On 23 January 2015 The Washington Free Beacon,
quoting U.S. military officials, reported that the flight test of the
KN-11 missile occurred off North Korea’s coast. South Korean government
officials declared later that the initial report was incorrect, saying
"The reports on a flight test of the SLBM were different from the
truth. It was a test of a vertical launcher, not a flight test".
No technical detail on KN-11 SLBN exist at this time. But because of the
reduced size of its launch platform (the Sinpo class submarine), the KN-11
is expected to have a fairly short range compared to other, land based
ballistic missiles available in the North Korean arsenal. |
Sinpo-class
Submarine
The Sinpo class submarine is a new ballistic missile submarine, the largest
submarine ever designed and built in North Korea. Nammed after the town
where it was built, the Sinpo classcould be based on soviet era Yugoslavian
designs such as Heroj and Sava. The new submarine first appeared on Google
Earth imagery in April 2014. Based on the satellite imagery, it is estimated
that the Sinpo-class is 65m (213 ft) long with a beam of 6.5m (21 ft).
Only two vertical tubes for one KN-11 SLBM each are located in the sail
of the submarine. |