North Korean missiles: Global tech secrets beneath the surface
Ukrainians have completed the analysis of the wreckage of North Korean ballistic missiles KN-23/24. The body is the only element originating from North Korea, while the rest of the components come from around the world. We explore what these Kim-skanders conceal and how they might have been developed.
8:53 AM EST, November 25, 2024
Due to the depletion of what many once believed to be "endless" post-Soviet ammunition reserves and insufficient production capacity, Russians are forced to meet up to 60 percent of their needs with supplies from North Korea.
Besides simple artillery shells and unguided rockets, Russians also receive North Korean ballistic missiles KN-23/24. These missiles, typical for regimes isolated from the world, are made using commercial components sourced from countries including China, the USA, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, and Switzerland. Some components, like the DC/DC converter from XP Power, were even produced in 2023.
Here’s how the Kim regime acquires electronics
Similar to Iran, North Korea has developed a system for acquiring electronics through a network of entities that mask the end customer. This involves acquiring commercial components that are available for open sale. Another source involves end distributors from certain countries like Kazakhstan, who are willing to sell specific electronics to sanctioned entities for several times the market price in pursuit of profit.
It’s worth noting that military-grade circuits are not always necessary for weapons production, as commercial electronics can suffice. However, this can affect reliability, as circuits intended for appliances like washing machines are not designed to operate under the stress or temperatures experienced by ballistic missiles.
Consequently, some launched missiles experience malfunctions, missing targets, or prematurely exploding mid-flight. The North Korean KN-23/24 missiles have already experienced such incidents near Kyiv.
A surprising mix of electronics and mechanics in the KN-23/24 missiles from the DPRK
For instance, the DC/DC converter TEN 8-2411WI from the Swiss company TRACO Power or the Hall sensor HCS-LTS-15A from LEM International SA cost about a dozen dollars each and are readily available. NXP, a Dutch company, provides components such as the LPC1759FBD80 microcontroller, typically used in alarm systems or engine controllers.
Numerous American-made components are also available from companies like Bourns Inc., Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Semtech Corporation, and Fairchild Semiconductor. For example, Texas Instruments' TPS54312 pulse regulators cost less than five dollars each.
The final electronics category is sourced from North Korea’s oldest ally, the People’s Republic of China. Examples include the AT2659s antenna amplifier from ZHONGKEWEI supporting GPS or GLONASS, ordinary E249743 antenna cables from Jiukai Co. Ltd., a 12.00 MHz quartz resonator, and the URB2405LD-20WR3 DC/DC converter from MORNSUN Guangzhou.
The North Koreans even use car parts like NSK 5209Z NR ball bearings, found in many Toyota or Lexus vehicles, to produce KN-23/24 missiles.
This creates a formidable weapon, combined with a 1,100-pound warhead and a solid-fueled rocket engine. If it remains intact during flight, it can inflict significant damage with high precision on targets up to about 310 miles away. These Kim-skanders are a less sophisticated analog to the Russian ballistic missiles Iskander-M.
