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Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl	대포동 2호
Hancha	大浦洞 2號
Revised Romanization	Daepodong 2ho
McCune–Reischauer	Taep'odong 2ho

Taepodong-2
Taepodong-2
Type	Space launcher technology development, possibly ballistic missile
Service history
In service	2006 (only test)
Production history
Manufacturer	North Korea
Specifications
Mass	~80 tonnes
Length	~30 m
Diameter	2.0–2.2 m
Engine	Liquid
Operational; range	4,000–6,700 km (est.)
Maximum speed	690–800 m/s
Guidance; system	Inertial
Launch; platform	Launch pad

The Taepodong-2 (TD-2, also spelled as Taep'o-dong 2)^[3] (Korean: 대포동 2호) is a designation used to indicate what was initially believed to be a North Korean two- or three-stage ballistic missile^[4] design that is the successor to the Taepodong-1 technology demonstrator. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Defense assessed that the Taepodong-2 had not been deployed as a missile.^[5] The Taepodong-2 is the technology base for the Unha space launch vehicle, and was likely not intended as ICBM technology.^[6]^[7]

Details

As there is no publicly available imagery of the only Taepodong-2 launch in 2006, all estimates of technical parameters are approximate.^[7]

Based on the size of the missile, the fuel composition, and the likely fuel capacity, it is estimated that a two-stage variant would have a range of around 4,000 km (2,500 statute miles) and a three-stage variant would be capable of reaching as far away as 4,500 km (2,800 statute miles), giving it potentially the longest range in the North Korean missile arsenal.^[3] The burn time of each stage is a little over 100 seconds, thus allowing the missile to burn for 5 or 6 minutes. Speculative variants of the missile could be capable of a range of approximately 9,000 km (5,600 statute miles).^[8] At maximum range, the Taepodong-2 is estimated to have a payload capacity of less than 500 kg (~1,100 lbs).^[3]

According to a former worker in the publications department of one of North Korea's top research centres, who defected to South Korea, North Korea began development of the missile in 1987.^[9]

Very few details concerning the technical specifications of the rocket are public information; even the name "Taepodong-2" is a designation applied by agencies outside North Korea to what is presumed to be a successor to the Taepodong-1. The TD-2 first stage likely uses a liquid propellant (TM-185 fuel and AK-27I oxidizer) driven engine and the second stage likely utilises the Rodong short-range missile.^[10] Depending on the range, the estimated payload capacity could be as high as 700–1,000 kg (~1,550 - 2,200 lbs) at short range, making it potentially suitable for conventional weapons payloads, NBC payloads as well as Earth orbit satellite delivery. At maximum range, the Taepodong-2 is estimated to have a payload capacity of less than 500 kg (~1,100 lbs).^[3] North Korea has yet to demonstrate the ability to produce a re-entry vehicle, without which North Korea cannot deliver a weapon from an ICBM.^[5]

In 2015, aerospace engineer and North Korea missile program analyst John Schilling stated that North Korea did not seem to be planning to create an operational ICBM from the Taepodong-2 technology, and that the Taepodong-2 had been mistakenly identified as an ICBM development, whereas in reality it was a space launch development vehicle.^[6]

Structure

First stage

Taepodong-2's first stage consists of four Rodong motors.

Second and third stages

Little is known about the Taepodong-2 design beyond the first stage. Most likely the second stage is one of the Scud-derived North Korean ballistic missiles (either Rodong-1 or Hwasong-6), and the third stage most likely uses Chinese solid-fuel engines.^[8]

Launches

2006 test

A Taepodong-2 was test fired on 5 July 2006 from the Tonghae test facility. According to reports, the missile failed in mid-flight about 40 seconds after launch.^[11]

Subsequent Unha launches

Subsequent launches were intended to launch satellites, using a Taepodong-2 development called the Unha rocket. After two failures in April 2009 and April 2012, its first successful flight, Unha-3, occurred in December 2012 with the launch of the second version of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 satellite.^[12]

This successful flight was repeated on 7 February 2016 (UTC) with the successful launch of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4 using a similar rocket as Unha-3 even though the rocket is officially named as Kwangmyŏngsŏng (not to be confused with the satellite with the same name).