KN-25 is a designation given to a North Korean tactical ballistic missile.

Quick Facts Type, Service history ...

KN-25
Type	Short-range ballistic missile/Multiple rocket launcher
Service history
Used by	North Korea
Production history
Designed	2019
Specifications
Mass	3,000 kg (6,600 lb)
Length	8.2 m (27 ft)
Diameter	600 mm KN24 450 mm KN25 MRL
Operational range	380 km (240 mi)
Guidance system	Possibly inertial with satellite
Accuracy	80-90 m[1]
Launch platform	Wheeled or tracked vehicle

Close

The KN-25 is officially described as a "super-large calibre" multiple launch rocket system, but the larger size and greater range of the missile compared to traditional rocket artillery led the United States Forces Korea (USFK) to categorize it as an SRBM, and it flies on a controlled ballistic trajectory. Missiles are estimated to be 600 mm in diameter, 8.2 meters long, and weigh 3,000 kg. They have an unspecified guidance system and have six rotating rear fins with four moving forward fins, which likely provide the attitude control of the rocket. They are mounted on either a four-tube Tatra 813 8×8 wheeled transporter-erector-launcher (TEL)^[2] or a tracked chassis with 10 road wheels on each side carry six tubes.^[3] It is a battlefield weapon, suitable for deployment at battalion-level to attack enemy rear-echelon targets out to 380 km with a conventional blast-fragmentation warhead.^[4][5] In October 2022, the KN-25 was included in a statement among other missiles North Korea claimed were part of its capability to deliver tactical nuclear weapons.^[6] At a parade in February 2023, the KN-25 was included among other missiles which North Korean press collectively referred to these as "tactical nuclear weapons operation units."^[7]

The six rotating rear fins are an unusual feature for rocket artillery, a considerable innovation of North Korea. Their purpose is to provide stabilisation of the rocket while in flight, compared to other rocket artillery rounds, which are usually spin stabilised by rotating the entire body. This method of stabilisation creates a more favourable environment for the guidance systems, as the rest of the missile does not rotate.^[8] It is possible that the missile will be stabilised through rolling the missile when it enters the upper atmosphere, where the smaller control fins are unable to function optimally, and then stopping the spin as it re-enters into denser air.^[2]

The missile possibly derives from the OTR-21 Tochka/KN-02 Toksa, which has a similarly sized motor, at 62 cm diameter. Connecting three such motor segments would result in a length similar to that of the KN-25 rocket.^[9] It has a 300 kg heavy warhead and circular error probable accuracy of 80 to 90 meters.^[10] The KN-25 is likely an indigenous project, as media coverage of this missile emphasis its research, using words such as 'Juche projectiles' to describe it, unlike the KN-23.^[11]

30 TELs were presented as a gift to the plenary meeting of the Worker's Party of Korea on January 1, 2023, with Kim Jong-un attending and making a speech.^[12] The system was described as 'unprecedented', in both the munitions industry as having no equal and its presentation, being on the lawn of the party central committee.^[13] 30 6-tube tracked launchers plus at least nine 4-tube wheeled launchers publicly showcased to be in North Korea's possession would give them the ability to fire up to 216 projectiles, requiring many fewer launch vehicles than would be needed to fire a similar number of traditional ballistic missiles to saturate South Korean ballistic missile defenses.^[3]

• KN-02
• KN-09