Hwasal-1

Hwasal-1
TypeLand-attack cruise missile
Place of originNorth Korea
Service history
In service2021–present
Used byKorean People's Army Strategic Force
Production history
ManufacturerNorth Korea
Specifications
WarheadConventional or tactical nuclear warhead
Operational
range
1,500–2,000 km (930–1,240 mi)
Guidance
system
INS combined with TERCOM
Launch
platform
Transporter erector launcher

The Hwasal-1 (Korean: 《화살-1》형; lit. 'Arrow Type 1') is a North Korean land-attack cruise missile. The first long-range cruise missile of North Korea, Hwasal-1 made its public debut in September 2021 with a flight test. A nuclear-capable missile, it can evade missile defenses by using low and complex trajectories while flying at a subsonic speed. North Korea has called Hwasal-1 as a "strategic" cruise missile.

The missile also has a larger warhead version, called Hwasal-1 Ra-3, first tested in 2024.

Description

Images of the Hwasal-1
Launch of the missile

Hwasal-1's normal range is about 1,500 km (930 mi),[1] but can be extended to 2,000 km (1,200 mi). It uses inertial guidance system (INS) combined with TERCOM, which can be updated via satellite. With this guidance system, the missile can use low and complex trajectories, enabling Hwasal-1 to evade detection and interception.[2]

Based on information from maiden flight in September 2021, Hwasal-1 appears to be a subsonic cruise missile.[3]

According to North Korea, it is a "strategic" cruise missile.[4] Hwasal-1 is capable of carrying the Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warhead.[1][5] Hwasal-1 also have variants that can be armed with a conventional warhead.[2]

History

Hwasal-1 was first launched in September 2021.[1]

Further flight tests of Hwasal-1 were carried out in 2022 and 2023.[4][6] However, the official name of the missile was only revealed in March 2023 test.[4]

List of launches

Attempt Date Location Number of missiles tested Outcome Additional notes Reference(s)
1 11–12 September 2021 Unknown 2 Success First test-fire of Hwasal-1. North Korea did not reveal official name in this test. [7]
2 2 November 2022 North Hamgyong Province 2 Success (North Korea claimed)
No launch detected (South Korea claimed) 		Like the earlier September 2021 test, North Korea also did not reveal official name of the missile in this test. According to North Korea, the missiles flew with 590.5 km (366.9 mi) range and landing in the international waters 80 km (50 mi) off the coast of Ulsan, South Korea. However, South Korea did not detect any cruise missile launch in this date. [6][8]
3 22 March 2023 Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province 2 Success These missiles flew for over 7,500 seconds with 1,500 km (930 mi) trajectory and were launched with two Hwasal-2 missiles. Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-fire. North Korea disclosed official name in this test. [4]
4 18 September 2024 Unknown Unknown Success The missile was not named by North Korean state media. According to North Korea, the missile was highly upgraded for combat use. Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch. [9][10]
5 28 December 2025 Sunan, Pyongyang 2 Success The launch may highly likely involve upgraded Hwasal-1 missiles. Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch. The missiles flew along predetermined trajectories in the Yellow Sea for 10,199 and 10,203 seconds before hitting targets. [2][11][12]

Hwasal-1 Ra-3

Images of the Hwasal-1 Ra-3
Launch of the missile

The Hwasal-1 Ra-3[a] (《화살-1라-3》형; lit. 'Arrow Type 1D-3') is a variant of Hwasal-1 with larger warhead. It may have a silghtly longer length than the original missile, and the warhead is likely to be conventional.[14]

On 19 April 2024, Hwasal-1 Ra-3 made its public debut as a Hwasal-1 Ra-3 was test-fired to test super-large warhead.[15][16] The test was reported to be likely conducted from Onchon Air Base.[17]

It is possible that a Hwasal-1 Ra-3 was tested on 2 February 2024, before its official public debut.[9]

In December 2025, there were some open-source reports that Russia might use Hwasal-1 Ra-3 in its invasion of Ukraine. These missiles can be armed with a 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) warhead and hit the target 130–250 km (81–155 mi) away.[13][18]

Notes

  1. ^ Also spelled Hwasal-1D-3.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Nguyên Hạnh (30 January 2024). "Triều Tiên phóng tên lửa lần thứ 3 trong chưa đầy 1 tuần" [North Korea fired missile for the third time in less than a week]. Tuổi Trẻ (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Ngọc An (30 December 2025). "Triều Tiên phô diễn tên lửa hành trình mới, bay thấp né radar suốt gần 3 giờ" [North Korea showcases new cruise missile, flying low to evade radar for nearly three hours]. Công lý (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  3. ^ Tianran Xu (14 September 2021). "Briefing on Recent DPRK Missile Launches 11-12 September 2021" (PDF). Open Nuclear Network. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d "Important Weapon Test and Firing Drill Conducted in DPRK". Korean Central News Agency. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2025. For image of Hwasal-1, see here.
  5. ^ Dương Khang (24 January 2024). "Hàn Quốc: Triều Tiên bắn loạt tên lửa hành trình ra Hoàng Hải" [South Korea: North Korea fires cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea]. Báo điện tử Pháp Luật Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Report of General Staff of KPA on Its Military Operations Corresponding to U.S.-South Korea Combined Air Drill". Korean Central News Agency. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  7. ^ "Long-range Cruise Missiles Newly Developed by Academy of Defence Science Successfully Test-fired". Korean Central News Agency. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  8. ^ Tianran Xu; Katsuhisa Furukawa; Elin Bergne; Kristiana Nitisa (11 November 2022). "Escalating Tensions on the Korean Peninsula". Open Nuclear Network. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  9. ^ a b Yang Uk (20 January 2025). 북한의 2024년 군사동향과 2025년의 선택 [North Korea's military trends in 2024 and choices in 2025] (PDF). Asan Institute for Policy Studies (in Korean). p. 4. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  10. ^ "DPRK Missile Administration and Academy of Defence Sciences Make Public Important Scientific Research Achievements". Korean Central News Agency. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  11. ^ Kim Soo-yeon (29 December 2025). "(3rd LD) N. Korea's Kim oversees firing of long-range strategic cruise missiles". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Triều Tiên diễn tập phóng tên lửa hành trình" [North Korea conducts cruise missile launch drill]. Quảng Ngãi TV (in Vietnamese). Quang Ngai Newspaper and Radio, Television. 29 December 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  13. ^ a b Minh Anh (27 December 2025). "Quân sự thế giới hôm nay (27-12): Ấn Độ thử thành công tên lửa đạn đạo K-4 trên tàu ngầm" [World military news today (27 December): India successfully tests K-4 SLBM]. People's Army Newspaper (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  14. ^ Hans M. Kristensen; Matt Korda; Eliana Johns; Mackenzie Knight-Boyle (15 July 2024). "North Korean nuclear weapons, 2024". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Super-large Warhead Power Test for Cruise Missile and Test Launch of New Anti-aircraft Missile Conducted". Korean Central News Agency. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  16. ^ Kim Tong-Hyung (20 April 2024). "North Korea says it tested 'super-large' cruise missile warhead and new anti-aircraft missile". Associated Press. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  17. ^ Colin Zwirko (20 April 2024). "North Korea launched cruise and anti-aircraft missiles on Friday: State media". NK News. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  18. ^ Taavi Minnik (2 January 2026). "„Tõsine oht Ukrainale." Mis juhtuks, kui Hwasal-1 Ra-3 raketid satuksid Venemaa kätte?" ["Serious threat to Ukraine", what would happen if Hwasal-1 Ra-3 missiles fell into Russian hands?]. Delfi Estonia (in Estonian). Delfi. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
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