N Korea 'develops Russian cruise missile'

[EC]

A North Korean propaganda film has revealed footage of a newly developed cruise missile, according to experts.

The missile is believed to be similar to the Russian KH-35 missile, which came into service in 2003.

Cruise missiles are short-range weapons guided by on-board computers, used to attack specific targets. The majority of the North's known missiles are much larger, longer-range missiles.

The North is under UN sanctions over its weapons and nuclear programmes.

Many in the West believe Pyongyang is trying to develop a nuclear weapon.

But analysts say the North does not appear to have successfully manufactured a warhead small enough to be carried by its missiles.
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ANALYSIS: Jonathan Marcus, diplomatic correspondent, BBC News

Fast, sea-skimming cruise missiles represent a potent threat to modern warships. So the evidence that North Korea is now producing its own anti-ship missile is of concern, and not just to the US Navy and North Korea's neighbours.

Pyongyang has established a significant cash and carry business selling its home-built ballistic missiles and there are clearly concerns that North Korea could seek to market a new line in cruise missiles as well.

There's much debate among experts as to just where North Korea got its cruise missile, which bears a remarkable resemblance to the Russian Kh-35 Uran. This was developed during the 1980s and 1990s. It can carry a 150kg warhead out to about 130km (80 miles).

A direct export by Moscow would break the UN arms embargo against Pyongyang. There's speculation that maybe the North Koreans obtained their prototype from Myanmar, or via the black market.
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The new missile was revealed for only a split second at the end of the 50-minute propaganda film.

It appeared in between montages of soldiers shouting, tanks firing in unison and leader Kim Jong-un laughing.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27881483

Annoyingly, there is no link to the actual video, but the still image (badly captured) does look a lot like an Uran. Only ever seen one of them though, and that were a bit worse for wear. A 150 kilo HE warhead is not beyond their capabilities to produce, though I debate strongly if they can actually produce the onboard computer guidance system needed. I'll bet a burger to a sirloin that this one, at least, were remote piloted.

[Oceander]

do they have the ability to produce the hardware needed?  if so, it might be a re-engineering situation on the computers.

[EC]

The physical hardware, sure. Chances are slim that they can do the same alloys needed for the thrust nozzles and that they have the skill with titanium to keep the weight down, but that can make a physical copy.

It's the guidance system that is going to cause problems. It's a country that can't make night vision goggles, never mind an autonomous targeting system.

[Chieftain]

The physical hardware, sure. Chances are slim that they can do the same alloys needed for the thrust nozzles and that they have the skill with titanium to keep the weight down, but that can make a physical copy.

It's the guidance system that is going to cause problems. It's a country that can't make night vision goggles, never mind an autonomous targeting system.

These guys believe in the old Soviet standard of "Quantity over Quality".  The Soviets didn't worry about the morality of killing their own troops, because if you threw a million T-55 tanks through the Fulda Gap against a few hundred Americans, eventually they would roll right over the top.  I do agree with your comments about advanced materials.  Much of what the Norks do is monkey-see, monkey-do.  It isn't difficult to duplicate a good design, as the Soviets also proved with just about every American aircraft ever developed.

The Norks make a lot of noise, and they are dangerous, but they are also incredibly isolated and I think their ability to influence anyone is waning.  Even the Chinee are getting tired of baby sitting them, and they know better than to give Junior any more dangerous toys.....

[Oceander]

These guys believe in the old Soviet standard of "Quantity over Quality".  The Soviets didn't worry about the morality of killing their own troops, because if you threw a million T-55 tanks through the Fulda Gap against a few hundred Americans, eventually they would roll right over the top.  I do agree with your comments about advanced materials.  Much of what the Norks do is monkey-see, monkey-do.  It isn't difficult to duplicate a good design, as the Soviets also proved with just about every American aircraft ever developed.

The Norks make a lot of noise, and they are dangerous, but they are also incredibly isolated and I think their ability to influence anyone is waning.  Even the Chinee are getting tired of baby sitting them, and they know better than to give Junior any more dangerous toys.....

yes, but Junior still has nukes; weak nukes, but nukes nonetheless.

[Chieftain]

yes, but Junior still has nukes; weak nukes, but nukes nonetheless.

True.  But setting one off in a tunnel under laboratory conditions, and building one that can reliably be launched atop an ICBM or in a cruise missile, and detonated against a specific target are two wildly different things.  We are talking light years of difference which the Norks will not overcome anytime soon.

[Oceander]

True.  But setting one off in a tunnel under laboratory conditions, and building one that can reliably be launched atop an ICBM or in a cruise missile, and detonated against a specific target are two wildly different things.  We are talking light years of difference which the Norks will not overcome anytime soon.

There are alternative delivery systems; again, not as efficient and effective as an ICBM, but with a nuke precision doesn't have to be top priority.