Breaking news
North Korea Test Launched a Ballistic Missile From its New Sinpo-Class Ballistic Missile Submarine.
| 2015
North
Korea leader Kim Jong-Un personally oversaw the launch |
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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. |
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The
first ever picture of the new Sinpo-class submarine |
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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. |
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Artist
Impression showing the location of the vertical launch tubes on the new
Sinpo-class submarine. Image from "Covert Shores" website. They
have a very comprehensive analysis of the Sinpo class submarine. Check
it ou at www.hisutton.com |
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