Everything about The Taepodong-2 totally explained
The
Taepodong-2 (TD-2, also spelled as
Taep'o-dong 2(External Link
)), (
Korean: 대포동 2호) is a designation used to indicate a
North Korean three-stage
ballistic missile design that's the successor to the
Taepodong-1. Very little is currently known about the missile design; on
July 5,
2006, one was
reportedly tested and, according to preliminary reports, failed around 35-40 seconds after launch, crashing into the ocean.
Brief background
Based on the size of the missile, the fuel composition, and the likely fuel capacity, it's estimated that a two stage variant would have a range of around 4000 km (2500 statute miles) and a three stage variant would be capable of reaching as far as 4500 km (2800 statute miles), giving it potentially the longest range in the
North Korean missile arsenal.
(External Link) The burn time of each stage is a little over 100 seconds, thus allowing the missile to burn for 5 or 6 minutes. Future highly speculative variants of the missile could be capable of a range of approximately 9000 km (5600 statute miles). At maximum range, the Taepodong-2 is estimated to have a payload capacity of less than 500 kg.
(External Link) Whether this would be large enough to carry a North Korean designed
nuclear warhead is currently unknown, as the full development status of the North Korean nuclear program is largely unknown. Most of it appears to be spin on the part of the North Korean government.
Details
According to
Kim Kil Son, a former worker in the publications department of one of North Korea's top research centres, North Korea began development of the missile in 1987.
Very few details concerning the technical specifications of the rocket are in the public domain; even the name "Taepodong-2" is a designation applied by agencies outside of North Korea to what is presumed to be a successor to the Taepodong-1. The TD-2 first stage likely uses a liquid propellant (TM-185 fuel and AK-27I oxidizer) driven engine and the second stage likely utilises the
Nodong short-range missile. Depending on the range, the estimated payload capacity could be as high as 700–1000 kg at short range, making it potentially suitable for conventional weapons payloads,
NBC payloads as well as
Earth orbit satellite delivery. At maximum range, the Taepodong-2 is estimated to have a payload capacity of less than 500 kg.
(External Link) North Korea has yet to demonstrate the ability to produce a re-entry vehicle that works. It is doubtful that a TD-2 could be used to accurately deliver a weapons payload in the near future as the accuracy of the claims of its power can't be verified.
Flights
A Taepodong-2 missile
was test fired on
July 5,
2006 from the
Musudan-ri Missile Test Facility.
According to preliminary reports, the missile failed in mid-flight 35-40 seconds after launch. North Korea also launched at least two short-range
Nodong-2 missiles along with the Taepodong-2.
Controversy
In June of 2006, U.S. intelligence reports revealed that North Korea was possibly planning to conduct a test flight of this missile. It was unknown when it would fly or indeed what the purpose of the flight would be, the two most likely explanations being a test flight or an attempted satellite delivery. The United States and Japan stated that they might consider sanctions against North Korea if it decided to go forward with the test. Both countries stated that the test or launch of a TD-2 missile by North Korea would be in violation of the
Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, an agreement between
Kim Jong Il and
Junichiro Koizumi in which North Korea agreed not to test long-range missiles.
On late
July 5,
2006 (
July 4 in America), U.S. intelligence reported the
launch of up to seven missiles, at least one of which was the long-range Taepodong-2, which failed within the first 40 seconds after launch. The launch location is believed to have been
.
In Popular Culture
Further Information
Get more info on 'Taepodong-2'.
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