Hwasong-17

North Korea claimed the Hwasong-17's first successful launch occurred on 24 March 2022. Some Western analysts instead believe the 24 March launch was an earlier missile design, and a later test that took place on 18 November 2022 was the first successful test launch.

• Name — Hwasong-17 • Engine — First stage: two RD-250-type rocket engines • Filling Weight — About • Filling — nuclear weapon, possibly MRV • Launch Platform — 11-axle transporter erector launcher (TEL) • Weight — About 80000-150000 kg • Production Date — 2020–present • Manufacturer — North Korea • Propellant — liquid propellant • Used By — Korean People's Army Strategic Force • Origin — North Korea • Is Missile — yes • Diameter — 2.4-2.9 m • Service — 2020–present • Type — Intercontinental ballistic missile

The Hwasong-17 may also contribute to ICBM testing by acting as a satellite launch vehicle (SLV), as the missile serves as the first stage of the Chollima-1 SLV, which unsuccessfully tried to launch a satellite on 31 May 2023 when the second stage booster failed to ignite and had a successful flight on 21 November 2023. North Korea has only fired long-range ballistic missiles on lofted trajectories, in part because tracking can only be done from land-based sensors. The ability to receive data signals is lost at a certain distance and altitude due to the Earth's curvature, and they lack ships or planes to continue monitoring an RV beyond those distances. The Hwasong-17 has more capable rocket motors and more energetic liquid propellants than North Korea's previous Taepodong-2/Unha-3 booster, making it able to launch a satellite twice as heavy as was previously possible into low Earth orbit. While the ICBM configuration of Hwasong-17 can deliver a payload to a Low Earth orbit, the payload capacity can be increased if North Korea configures it to be an SLV, making it a medium-lift launch vehicle. The missile's first launches were claimed to be related to testing elements for a reconnaissance satellite. As an SLV, Hwasong-17 could launch a satellite that would be in a position to monitor future ICBM flights and payload reentry from space, enabling more realistic testing by firing them on normal trajectories out to further distances.

Hwasong-17 made its public debut in a military parade on 10 October 2020. It was mounted on 11-axle launchers and appeared at the parade's end. North Korea called Hwasong-17 as "new strategic weapon" without mentioning official designation, and the missile was tentatively named Hwasong-16. At the Self-Defence-2021 exhibition, North Korea revealed the official name of the missile as Hwasong-17. Test launches of the Hwasong-17 were allegedly carried out first on 27 February 2022, and again on 5 March. North Korea did not publicize news of the launches, with INDOPACOM revealing them later. The United States believed the tests were not intended to demonstrate the ICBM's range but conduct early evaluations of its capabilities. North Korea publicly claimed the launches were intended to test components of a reconnaissance satellite at operational altitudes without disclosing they had been lofted by the new ICBM. It is possible the launches were done to test both satellite components and the ICBM, but only the former was admitted to limit potential international criticism. Missile expert Jeffrey Lewis also raised the possibility that these were launches of the post-boost vehicle for the second stage of the Hwasong-17. A missile launch was attempted on 16 March 2022, but it was a failure. It is possible that it was a Hwasong-17 test, but was not acknowledged by North Korea due to the unsuccessful launch. A test launch of a disputed missile type was carried out by North Korea on 24 March 2022. The launch was a technical success that broke many records for North Korea, for example regarding height and flight time. The footage of the launch may have been doctored, with missile analysts being unable to confirm that the missile that was launched on 24 March was a Hwasong-17, due to inconsistencies with objects in the background of the launch, which matched to satellite imagery on an earlier date than 24 March. Two shots of the observation bus that Kim Jong Un was in appeared to be taken in different locations and grass that was burnt in a controlled burn appeared to be unburnt on Korean Central Television footage. South Korean intelligence alleges that the missile launched on 24 March was likely an improved and modified Hwasong-15, though according to NK News, there may be other reasons for using old footage, such as a camera failure. After the test, Hwasong-17 appreared at the 25 April 2022 military parade. A further test took place on 18 November 2022. At a parade on 8 February 2023 marking the 75th anniversary of the Korean People’s Army, twelve Hwasong-17s on mobile launchers were displayed. Depending on the exact number of missiles and potential multiple reentry vehicles, North Korea could technically have reached the point where they have enough ICBMs carrying enough warheads to overwhelm the existing amount of GMD interceptors, although no multiple warhead tests had yet been conducted. A third test flight occurred on 16 March 2023.

• Illustration — Lofted trajectories of Hwasong-14, Hwasong-15 and Hwasong-17

• Attempt — Date (Pyongyang Standard Time) — Location — Pre-launch announcement — Outcome — Additional notes — References • 1 — 24 March 2022, 2:34 p.m. — Sil-li missile facility, near Pyongyang International Airport — Signs of an ICBM or satellite launch were allegedly detected by the United States. — First announced test of the Hwasong-17, with an apogee of and a horizontal displacement of, with a total flight time of 4,052 seconds. Kim Jong Un, who issued the launch order a day before the test flight, supervised the launch, and celebrated with soldiers and researchers from the Academy of National Defense Science. United States condemned the launch. The launch could have instead been an extended range Hwasong-15, with video footage of the launch being inconsistent with the conditions on 24 March. • 2 — 18 November 2022, 10:14 a.m. — Pyongyang International Airport — None — Second test firing of Hwasong-17 that has been publicly acknowledged by North Korean state media. Kim Jong Un supervised the launch along with his wife and daughter. The missile flew on a lofted trajectory, reaching a maximum altitude of while flying with a maximum speed of Mach. The total flight time was 4,135 seconds. After the test, a transporter erector launcher (numbered 321), which was used for launching Hwasong-17 in this launch, was awarded three titles: Hero of the Republic, Order of the National Flag first class and Gold Star Medal. • 3 — 16 March 2023, 7:09 a.m. — None — Third test firing of Hwasong-17 that has been publicly acknowledged by North Korean state media. Kim Jong Un supervised the launch along with his wife and daughter. The missile flew on a lofted trajectory covering a distance of and reaching a maximum altitude of approximately. The total flight time was 4,151 seconds.

• Attempt — Date (Pyongyang Standard Time) — Location — Pre-launch announcement — Outcome — Additional notes — References • 1 — 27 February 2022 — Pyongyang International Airport — None — According to North Korea, the test was intended for testing reconnaissance satellite components. The missile was launched using lofted trajectory and achieved apogee, range. North Korea did not publish images of the launcher, instead, only images taken from launcher were published, and the launcher was later identified to be Hwasong-17. It is possible that the test was for verifying some functions before a maximum-range test-fire. • 2 — 5 March 2022 — None — North Korea also claimed the launch to test reconnaissance satellite components. The missile was launched using lofted trajectory and flew, achieved apogee. North Korea also did not publish images of the launcher, which was later identified to be Hwasong-17. It is possible that the test was for verifying some functions before a maximum-range test-fire. • 3 — 16 March 2022, 9:30 a.m. — None — The projectile exploded at an altitude below. Later, it was identified as Hwasong-17. Its erratic flight path and destruction of the missile could be witnessed from Pyongyang, and debris from the failed test fell near the city. It is possible that the footage of the claimed successful launch occurred eight days later is from this test. • 4 — 4 May 2022 — Around 30 April and 3 May, satellite captured some objects appear to be vehicles gathering at Pyongyang International Airport's northern runway. It is possible that these activities were for agriculture-related purposes. — It is possible that the missile was Hwasong-15. The missile flew, achieved apogee, with a maximum speed of Mach. North Korea did not release a press statement about the launch. • 5 — 25 May 2022 — 30 minutes before the test-fire, satellite imagery showed an object, appears to be the missile's TEL. — According to South Korean data, the missile flew with an apogee of. North Korea did not release a press statement about the launch. Over 30 minutes after the launch, North Korea test-fired two additional short-range ballistic missiles.

In February 2023, the Korea Stamp Corporation unveiled a series of stamps commemorating the November 2022 test-fire of Hwasong-17. Seven months later, the Hwasong-17, along with Hwasong-18 and Hwasal-2, was reported to be featured in patriotic desks for wearing. In November 2023, to celebrate the successful November 2022 test, North Korea created a new holiday on 18 November, called Missile Industry Day. Later, in May 2024, Hwasong-17-modeled toys and fireworks were also reported to be sold in North Korea. Hwasong-17 is also featured in North Korean propaganda posters.