Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
This is recorded live video of the successful test launch by the new Railway Mobile Missile Regiment (철도 이동 미사일 연대) of an operational 800+ km range missile launched from a mobile railway car and train set out of a tunnel in the central mountain region of Yangdeok about 1.8 km south of Geocha 거차역 rail station in South Pyongan province during the early morning of 15 September 2021, and announced by DPRK's Rodong Sinmun media later that same day. The regiment was formed in January 2021. Rough launch point 39.275267, 126.804720
The two missiles are carried in pods side-by-side with each occupying half the rail car. The roof of the rail car splits open to erect one missile while the other stays covered. The rail car has openings in the side for blast release, and inside are curved blast deflectors. The motors for the two erector-launcher arms are under the horizontal missile bays, and can be seen when the main side doors are open. The train has three units: a regular diesel locomotive; a troops car which looks like a freight car; and lastly the missile transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) which also looks like a common ordinary freight car. Markings on the engine and cars are normal ordinary railway markings of the Korean State Railway 조선 민주주의 인민 공화국 철도성 which has some 6000+ km of trackage. The TEL is car number 68-161597. It is notable that this section of track is new and rests on concrete sleepers, in contrast to the old and dilapidated wooden sleeper track throughout most of the country.
Four troops could be seen marshalling the train as it moved backwards, and once stopped another six came out of the troop carrier car behind the locomotive. All troops were wearing light grey chemical defence suits and black rubber face masks and gloves. The train was hidden in a tunnel barely as long as the train set before being pushed out backwards then fired. The TEL deploys four pairs of black squared hydraulic pads to stabilize the car for missile launching. Troops outside the rail car moved about 100m down the tracks from the TEL and sheltered in a ditch immediately prior to launch.
The missile is a longer-range locally engineered DPRK version of the Russian 9K720 Iskander short-range missile system deployed on road-mobile launchers. The Iskander has a range up to 500 km, while the new missile test launched from the train flew 820 km to an impact point in the Sea of Japan/East Sea. This is not an Iskander. These missiles were launched from road mobile TELs in 2019, and are thought to have a depressed trajectory under 60 km altitude allowing for maneuverability and the evasion of US anti-missile weapons. The USA has called it a KH-23 but there is not yet a public name for the missile in the DPRK. It was first shown on 08 February 2018, and flight tested the following May.
The "no-notice" test was witnessed by Pak Jong Chon, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party, who "guided an inspection firing drill of a railway mobile missile regiment". Pak stated the regiment was to be upgraded to a brigade shortly. He said that the system serves as an efficient counterblow means capable of dealing a heavy multiple and simultaneous blow to the threatening forces through separate firepower missions in different parts of the country, and he called upon the army and relevant sector to steadily improve tactical plans for properly applying the system according to the topographical conditions and actual situation of the country.
DPRK stated "The drill was aimed at confirming the practicability of the railway mobile missile system deployed for the first time for action, evaluating without notice the combat preparedness of the new regiment and its ability to perform firepower mission and mastering the actual war procedures."
The test launches were also witnessed by officials of the Department of Political Leadership over Military Affairs and the Department of Munitions Industry of the WPK Central Committee; leading officials of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army; and the defence science research sector. Until very recently the DPRK kept such tests relatively secret, but the importance of this event is shown by the speed with which the test was broadcast.
The video is courtesy of the Korean People's Army 조선인민군, and the Korean People's Army Strategic Rocket Force 조선인민군 전략로케트군.
This is recorded live video of the successful test launch by the new Railway Mobile Missile Regiment (철도 이동 미사일 연대) of an operational 800+ km range missile launched from a mobile railway car and train set out of a tunnel in the central mountain region of Yangdeok about 1.8 km south of Geocha 거차역 rail station in South Pyongan province during the early morning of 15 September 2021, and announced by DPRK's Rodong Sinmun media later that same day. The regiment was formed in January 2021. Rough launch point 39.275267, 126.804720
The two missiles are carried in pods side-by-side with each occupying half the rail car. The roof of the rail car splits open to erect one missile while the other stays covered. The rail car has openings in the side for blast release, and inside are curved blast deflectors. The motors for the two erector-launcher arms are under the horizontal missile bays, and can be seen when the main side doors are open. The train has three units: a regular diesel locomotive; a troops car which looks like a freight car; and lastly the missile transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) which also looks like a common ordinary freight car. Markings on the engine and cars are normal ordinary railway markings of the Korean State Railway 조선 민주주의 인민 공화국 철도성 which has some 6000+ km of trackage. The TEL is car number 68-161597. It is notable that this section of track is new and rests on concrete sleepers, in contrast to the old and dilapidated wooden sleeper track throughout most of the country.
Four troops could be seen marshalling the train as it moved backwards, and once stopped another six came out of the troop carrier car behind the locomotive. All troops were wearing light grey chemical defence suits and black rubber face masks and gloves. The train was hidden in a tunnel barely as long as the train set before being pushed out backwards then fired. The TEL deploys four pairs of black squared hydraulic pads to stabilize the car for missile launching. Troops outside the rail car moved about 100m down the tracks from the TEL and sheltered in a ditch immediately prior to launch.
The missile is a longer-range locally engineered DPRK version of the Russian 9K720 Iskander short-range missile system deployed on road-mobile launchers. The Iskander has a range up to 500 km, while the new missile test launched from the train flew 820 km to an impact point in the Sea of Japan/East Sea. This is not an Iskander. These missiles were launched from road mobile TELs in 2019, and are thought to have a depressed trajectory under 60 km altitude allowing for maneuverability and the evasion of US anti-missile weapons. The USA has called it a KH-23 but there is not yet a public name for the missile in the DPRK. It was first shown on 08 February 2018, and flight tested the following May.
The "no-notice" test was witnessed by Pak Jong Chon, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party, who "guided an inspection firing drill of a railway mobile missile regiment". Pak stated the regiment was to be upgraded to a brigade shortly. He said that the system serves as an efficient counterblow means capable of dealing a heavy multiple and simultaneous blow to the threatening forces through separate firepower missions in different parts of the country, and he called upon the army and relevant sector to steadily improve tactical plans for properly applying the system according to the topographical conditions and actual situation of the country.
DPRK stated "The drill was aimed at confirming the practicability of the railway mobile missile system deployed for the first time for action, evaluating without notice the combat preparedness of the new regiment and its ability to perform firepower mission and mastering the actual war procedures."
The test launches were also witnessed by officials of the Department of Political Leadership over Military Affairs and the Department of Munitions Industry of the WPK Central Committee; leading officials of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army; and the defence science research sector. Until very recently the DPRK kept such tests relatively secret, but the importance of this event is shown by the speed with which the test was broadcast.
The video is courtesy of the Korean People's Army 조선인민군, and the Korean People's Army Strategic Rocket Force 조선인민군 전략로케트군.
