Hwasal-2 Explained

Is Missile:	yes
Hwasal-2
Type:	Long-range, land-attack cruise missile Surface-to-surface missile
Used By:	Korean People's Army
Service:	2021-present
Engine:	turbofan (or tj)
Length:	^[1]
Diameter:	0.54-0.60 m
Vehicle Range:	2000 km
Filling:	TNW, HE
Launch Platform:	TELAR, submarine^[2]

The Hwasal-2 is a cruise missile of DPRK capable of carrying Hwasan-31 (화산-31) nuclear warheads. This missile was first observed in Self-Defense-2021 with another cruise missile, Hwasal-1.^[3]

Description

On 23 February 2023, the Korean Central News Agency announced the missile test revealing its name as Hwasal-2.^[4]

List of Hwasal-2 launches

Attempt	Date	Location	Pre-launch announcement / detection	Outcome	Additional notes
1	25 January 2022	Hamhung 39.1118°N 127.6668°W^[5]			North Korea did not mention the name of missile, later confirmed as Hwasal-2 as it has same design.^[6]
2	23 February 2023	Kimchaek			North Korea asserted launch of 4 missiles. However South Korean Ministry of National Defense was skeptical on North Korean news report.^[7]
3	22 March 2023	South Hamgyong			North Korea launched two Hwasal-2 along another two Hwasal-1 cruise missiles.^[8]
4	Before 21 August 2023	South Hamgyong			North Korea launched at leat Hwasal-2 over the Amnok-class ship^[9] ^[10]

Notes and References

1. https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20230724/4309357/1
2. https://www.38north.org/2023/09/the-sleeper-has-awakened-six-key-takeaways-from-the-roll-out-of-north-koreas-tactical-nuclear-attack-submarine/ The Sleeper Has Awakened: Six Key Takeaways From the Rollout of North Korea’s “Tactical Nuclear Attack Submarine”
3. News: 北, 개량 순항미사일+KN-23 초저각 발사…섞어쏘기 과시. North Korea Launched Modified Cruise Missile & KN-23 with super-low trajectory, bragging so-called mix-launching . Park . Dearo . . KODEF researcher . 2022-01-08 . 2023-02-25. korean.
4. Web site: SHARMA . SHWETA . North Korea fires four cruise missiles as US and South Korea stage 'tabletop' nuclear drills . 2023-02-24 . www.aol.com . en-US.
5. Web site: Zwirko . Colin . North Korea fired cruise missiles from luxury hotel last month: Analysis . 2023-02-25 . www.nknews.org . en-US.
6. Web site: Twit by Joseph Dempsey. mobile.twitter.com.
7. Web site: Cho . David . Seoul skeptical of North Korea's long-range cruise missile claims . 2023-02-25 . Stars and Stripes . en-US.
8. Web site: N. Korea's strategic cruise missile drill. en.
9. Web site: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversees cruise missile launch drill. Kyodo . en.
10. Web site: Kim Jong-un oversees strategic cruise missile test to show ‘readiness for war’. Telegraph. en-UK.