View source for Hwasong-7

{{use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Hwasong-7
| image              = Rodong-1.png
| image_size         = 50
| alt                = 
| caption            = Artist rendition of the missile
| type               = [[Medium-range ballistic missile]]
| origin             = North Korea
<!-- Type selection -->
| is_ranged          = yes
| is_bladed          = 
| is_explosive       = yes
| is_artillery       = 
| is_vehicle         = 
| is_missile         = yes
| is_UK              = 
<!-- Service history -->
| service            = 1998−Present
| used_by            = See ''[[#Operators|operators]]''
| wars               = 
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           = 
| design_date        = 
| manufacturer       = 
| developed_from     =
| developed_into     =
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = 1990–present
| number             = 
| variants           = 
<!-- General specifications -->
| spec_label         = 
| mass               = 
| length             = {{convert|15.6|m|abbr=on}}
| part_length        = 
| width              = 
| height             = 
| diameter           = {{convert|1.25|m|abbr=on}}
| crew               = 
| passengers         = 
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> 
| cartridge          = 
| cartridge_weight   = 
| caliber            = 
| barrels            = 
| action             =
| rate               = 
| velocity           = 
| range              = 
| max_range          = 
| feed               = 
| sights             = 
<!-- Artillery specifications -->
| breech             = 
| recoil             = 
| carriage           = 
| elevation          = 
| traverse           = 
<!-- Bladed weapon specifications --> 
| blade_type         = 
| hilt_type          = 
| sheath_type        = 
| head_type          = 
| haft_type          = 
<!-- Explosive specifications --> 
| filling            = Conventional, possibly [[North Korea and weapons of mass destruction#Nuclear weapons|nuclear]]
| filling_weight     = {{convert|700-1000|kg|abbr=on}} (estimated)
| detonation         = 
| yield              = 
<!-- Vehicle/missile specifications -->
| armour             = 
| primary_armament   = 
| secondary_armament = 
| engine             = 
| engine_power       = 
| pw_ratio           = 
| payload_capacity   = 
| drive              = 
| transmission       = 
| suspension         = 
| clearance          = 
| fuel_capacity      = 
| vehicle_range      = {{convert|1000-1500|km|abbr=on}} (estimated)
| speed              = 
| guidance           = Inertial
| steering           = 
<!-- Missiles only -->
| wingspan           = 
| propellant         = TM-185 and AK-27I
| ceiling            = 
| altitude           = {{convert|160|km|abbr=on}} ([[lofted trajectory]])
| boost              = 
| depth              = 
| accuracy           = {{convert|190-2000|m|abbr=on}} [[Circular error probable|CEP]]
| launch_platform    = 
| transport          = 
<!-- For all -->
| ref                = 
}}
The '''Hwasong-7'''{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=282}}{{efn|Also known as '''Rodong-1''' ({{korean|hangul=로동1호|hanja=蘆洞 1號|labels=no}}, North Korean style), '''Nodong-1''' ({{korean|hangul=노동1호|hanja=蘆洞 1號|labels=no}}, South Korean style), both meaning "Labor-1". South Korea romanized "Hwasong-7" as '''Hwaseong-7'''.<br />Western designations for the Hwasong-7 also include: '''Nodong''', '''Rodong''', '''Scud-D''', '''Scud Mod-D''', '''Nodong-A'''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cordesman |first1=Anthony H. |last2=Hess |first2=Ashley |title=The Evolving Military Balance in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia: Missile, DPRK and ROK Nuclear Forces, and External Nuclear Forces |date=2013 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4422-2520-6 |page=10 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OH3yAwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>}} ({{korean|hangul=《화성-7》형|lit=[[Mars]] Type 7|context=north}}) is a single-[[Staging (rocketry)|stage]], mobile [[Bipropellant rocket|liquid propellant]] [[medium-range ballistic missile]] developed by [[North Korea]]. Developed in the mid-1980s, it is a scaled-up adaptation of the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[R-17 Elbrus]] missiles, more commonly known by its [[NATO reporting name]] "[[Scud]]". The inventory is estimated to be around 200–300 missiles.<ref>{{cite web |date=2016-08-16|author1=Gabriel Dominguez|author2=Neil Gibson|url=http://www.janes.com/article/62967/south-korea-s-military-to-increase-number-of-hyunmoo-missiles-says-report |title=South Korea's military to increase number of Hyunmoo missiles, says report|access-date=2017-07-13|website=[[Janes Information Services]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730112920/http://www.janes.com/article/62967/south-korea-s-military-to-increase-number-of-hyunmoo-missiles-says-report |archive-date=2017-07-30 }}</ref> [[US Air Force]] [[National Air and Space Intelligence Center]] estimates that as of June 2017 fewer than 100 launchers were operationally deployed.{{sfn|DIBMAC|2017|page=25}}

It influenced the design of Pakistan's [[Ghauri-1]] missile,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-09-22|title=North Korea-Iran Missile Cooperation|url=https://www.38north.org/2016/09/melleman092216/|access-date=2021-03-06|website=[[38 North]]|language=en}}</ref> as well as the [[Iran]]ian [[ghadr-110]].<ref name="nkinb">{{cite web |last1=Brügge |first1=Norbert |title=The North-Korean/Iranian Nodong-Shahab missile family |url=https://b14643.eu/Spacerockets/Specials/Nodong/index.htm |access-date=2025-02-08|date=2 May 2020}}</ref><ref name=usdod01>{{cite book|author=U.S. Department of Defense |title=Proliferation: Threat and Response |year=2001 |url=https://fas.org/irp/threat/prolif00.pdf|publisher=DIANE Publishing |pages=38 |isbn=1-4289-8085-7}}</ref>

==Overview==
[[File:North_Korean_missile_range.svg|thumb|Estimated maximum range of some [[Korean People's Army Strategic Force|North Korean missiles]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=How potent are North Korea's threats?|date=15 September 2015|newspaper=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21710644|access-date=2025-02-08}}</ref>]]
It is believed North Korea obtained R-17 designs from [[Egypt]], and possibly modified designs from China, allowing them to [[Reverse engineering|reverse-engineer]] them into a larger and longer-distance weapon. United States [[reconnaissance satellite]]s first detected this type in May 1990 at the [[Musudan-ri]] test launch facility, in northeastern North Korea.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bluth|first1=Christoph|title=Crisis on the Korean Peninsula|date=July 31, 2011|publisher=Potomac Books Inc.|isbn=9781597975773|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QsB7WfdvNaQC&q=rodong+satellites+1990&pg=PT59|access-date=17 March 2017}}</ref> In the same year, North Korea began producing Hwasong-7, and eight years later, Hwasong-7 became operational.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wisconsinproject.org/countries/egypt/miss.html|title=Egypt's Missile Efforts Succeed with Help from North Korea|year=1996|publisher=Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123045225/http://www.wisconsinproject.org/countries/egypt/miss.html|archive-date=2016-01-23}}</ref><ref name=ArmsControlCenterRodong>{{cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Dueyon |title=Fact Sheet: North Korea's Nuclear and Ballistic Missile Programs |url=http://armscontrolcenter.org/fact-sheet-north-koreas-nuclear-and-ballistic-missile-programs/ |website=The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation |access-date=5 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618044352/http://armscontrolcenter.org/fact-sheet-north-koreas-nuclear-and-ballistic-missile-programs/ |archive-date=18 June 2016 |date=1 July 2013}}</ref>

The precise capabilities and specifications of the missile are unknown; even the fact of its production and deployment are controversial. It is a larger variant of the R-17, scaled up so its cross-sectional area is about doubled, with a diameter of {{convert|1.25|m|ft|sigfig=1}} and a length of {{convert|15.6|m|ft}}.<ref name=rand-2012>{{cite report |url=https://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR1268.html |title=Characterizing the North Korean Nuclear Missile Threat |author=Markus Schiller |publisher=[[RAND Corporation]] |id=TR-1268-TSF |isbn=978-0-8330-7621-2 |year=2012 |access-date=19 January 2013}}</ref>

Its aerodynamic design is stable, reducing the need for modern active stabilization systems while the missile is flying in the denser lower atmosphere. The Hwasong-7 uses the liquid propellant combination of TM-185 (20% [[gasoline]] and 80% [[kerosene]]) and AK-27I (27% {{chem2|N2O4|link=Dinitrogen tetroxide}} and 73% {{chem2|HNO3|link=Nitric acid}}), therefore, Hwasong-7 can only be fueled when vertical, therefore it cannot be fueled before transport as is normal for modern missiles. Its range is estimated as {{cvt|900|km|abbr=on}} with a {{cvt|1000|kg|abbr=on}} [[Payload (air and space craft)|payload]] to {{cvt|1000-1500|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name=rand-2012/><ref name=ArmsControlCenterRodong /><ref name="FAS">{{cite web|author=Charles P. Vick |title=No-Dong 1 - North Korea |url=https://nuke.fas.org/guide/dprk/missile/nd-1.htm |website=[[Federation of American Scientists]] |access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref>

It has an estimated [[circular error probable]] (CEP) of {{cvt|1000-2000|m|abbr=on}}, but it can be reduced to between {{convert|190|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|1000|m|abbr=on}} with [[GPS]] guidance.<ref name="FAS" /><ref name=schilling-2015>{{cite report |url=http://38north.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NKNF_Delivery-Systems.pdf |title=The Future of North Korean Nuclear Delivery Systems |author=John Schilling, Henry (Long) Kan |publisher=US-Korea Institute at SAIS |year=2015 |access-date=30 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413010356/http://38north.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NKNF_Delivery-Systems.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2015 }}</ref> North Korea is believed to possess some 300 Hwasong-7 missiles and fewer than 50 mobile launchers.<ref>{{Cite web|author= Song Sang-ho|date=2013-03-04 |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/5248|title=Around 70% of N.K. missiles target S. Korea|access-date=2025-02-08 |website=[[The Korea Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/nukes/NASIC2009.pdf |title=Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat |work=National Air and Space Intelligence Center |publisher=Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency |id=NASIC-1031-0985-09 |date=April 2009 }}</ref>

The Hwasong-7's technology has been exported to foreign nations (such as [[Iran]] and [[Pakistan]]) in secrecy on the basis of [[Barter|mutual exchange]] of [[Nuclear technology|technologies]], with Iran being one of the largest beneficiaries of such technology. Successful variants were tested and deployed by [[Iran]] after developing the [[Shahab-3]] which is [[Carbon copy|roughly based]] on Hwasong-7.<ref name="nkinb" />{{sfn|DIBMAC|2017|page=23}} Some press reports (including ''[[The Sunday Telegraph]]'', ''[[Jerusalem Post]]'', and ''[[Janes Information Services|Janes]]'') claimed that [[Libya]] signed a contract for a total of 50 Nodong systems in October 1999, with the first batch delivered in July 2000, however such rumors proved to be false when [[Disarmament of Libya|Libya voluntarily dismantled its weapons of mass destruction programs in December 2003]] and invited foreign inspectors to verify the disarmament process. In that same year, US inspectors learned that [[Iraq]] attempted to buy Nodong missiles, but the North Koreans never delivered the missiles and refused to refund the $10 million down payment.{{sfn|Pinkston|2008|pages=20,70}}

North Korea test-fired Hwasong-7 missiles in [[2006 North Korean missile test|2006]] and 2014, in which North Korea fires two missiles that flew {{cvt|650|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name=bbc-20140326>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26743197 |title=North Korea test-fires 'ballistic' missiles |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=26 March 2014 |access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref><ref name=nyt-20140325>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/26/world/asia/north-korea-launches-two-midrange-missiles.html |title=North Korea Launches Two Midrange Missiles |author=Choe Sang-Hun |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |date=25 March 2014 |access-date=31 March 2014}}</ref>

Although it has an estimated range of {{convert|1,000-1,500|km|mi|abbr=on}}, launches in March 2014 flew only {{convert|650|km|mi|abbr=on}}, as the missiles flew to an altitude of {{cvt|160|km|abbr=on}} because of [[lofted trajectory]]. The missiles achieved a maximum speed of {{cvt|7|Mach|km/h|abbr=on}}. U.S. and South Korean [[MIM-104 Patriot|Patriot PAC-2/3]] interceptors are more specialized to hit [[ballistic missiles]] up to {{cvt|400|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Yonhap160km>{{cite news |title=NK's March missile test aimed at evading interceptor systems: sources |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20140619004600315 |access-date=6 November 2024 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |date=19 June 2014}}</ref>

On 5 September 2016, North Korea fired three missiles into the [[Sea of Japan]], these missiles achieved about {{convert|1,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} range. Initially, these missiles were believed to be Hwasong-7,<ref name="CNN">{{Cite web|author1=James Griffiths|author2=K.J. Kwon|date=2016-09-05 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/05/asia/north-korea-ballistic-missiles/|title=North Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles; Japan calls it 'serious threat'|access-date=2025-02-08 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref> however, it was later revealed that the missiles used for this launch were [[Hwasong-9]] (Scud-ER).<ref name=“38n”>{{Cite web|author1= Markus Schiller|author2=Robert H. Schmucker|date=8 November 2016|title=Flashback to the Past: North Korea's "New" Extended-Range Scud|url=https://www.38north.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Scud-ER-110816_Schiller_Schmucker.pdf|access-date=2025-01-01|website=[[38 North]]}}</ref><ref name="nti">{{Cite web|title=The CNS North Korea Missile Test Database|url=https://www.nti.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/north_korea_missile_test_database.xlsx|access-date=2025-01-03|website=[[Nuclear Threat Initiative]]}}</ref> The United States strongly condemned the launch.<ref name="CNN" />

To enable interception at higher altitudes, South Korea is indigenously developing the long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM),<ref name=Yonhap160km /> and on 8 July 2016 the U.S. agreed to deploy one [[Terminal High Altitude Area Defense]] missile defense system in [[Seongju County]], in the south of South Korea, by the end of 2017.<ref name=xinhua-20160804>{{cite news |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-08/04/c_135564043.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805200603/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-08/04/c_135564043.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 5, 2016 |title=Shift in THAAD site in S. Korea nothing to solve controversies |author=Yoo Seungki |publisher=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |date=4 August 2016 |access-date=4 August 2016}}</ref>
===Variant for reconnaissance satellite testing===
{{See also|Malligyong-1#Reconnaissance satellite plans and component tests}}
Hwasong-7 has a variant with white livery for reconnaissance satellite cameras testing.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Norbert Brügge|title=NADA's small launcher|url=https://b14643.eu/Spacerockets/Specials/NADA's_small_launcher/index.htm
|access-date=2025-01-10|website=b14643.eu}}</ref>

On 18 December 2022, North Korea launched two medium-range ballistic missiles from [[Sohae Satellite Launching Station]]. These missiles flew {{cvt|500|km|abbr=on}} with an apogee of {{cvt|550|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name="nti" />

According to North Korea, the missiles were test-fired by [[National Aerospace Technology Administration]] (then National Aerospace Development Administration) for testing reconnaissance satellite cameras.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 December 2022|title=NADA Conducts Important Test for Development of Reconnaissance Satellite|url=http://kcna.co.jp/item/2022/202212/news19/20221219-01ee.html
|access-date=2025-01-10|website=[[Korean Central News Agency]]}} For images, see [https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/kcna-watch/kcna_kp_en/images/PIC0071277.jpg 1] and [https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/kcna-watch/kcna_kp_en/images/PIC0071278.jpg 2].</ref>

Based on photos released by North Korea, the missiles appear to be derived from Hwasong-7 (or [[Scud missile|Scud]]).<ref name="nti" />

==Operators==
===Current===

* {{flag|Iran}} − [[Ghadr-110]] used by the [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force]].{{sfn|IISS|2024a|page=354}}
* {{flag|North Korea}} − Used by the [[Korean People's Army Strategic Force]].{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=282}} According to the [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]] (IISS), as of 2025, North Korea is possessing about 10 Hwasong-7 launchers.<ref name="IISS2025">{{cite book |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2025 |date=12 February 2025 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1041049678 |edition=1st}}</ref>{{rp|268}}
* {{flag|Pakistan}} − [[Ghauri (missile)|Hatf 5 Ghauri]] used by the [[Army Strategic Forces Command (Pakistan)|Army Strategic Forces Command]].{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=301}}

===Unconfirmed===

* {{flag|Egypt}} − Reportedly was interested in buying Nodong missiles, but photographic evidence only shows Scud-Bs or possibly Scud-Cs in use.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hinz |first1=Fabian |title=After half a century Egypt's Scuds soldier on |url=https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2023/06/after-half-a-century-egypts-scuds-soldier-on/ |website=Military Balance Blog |publisher=International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) |access-date=6 November 2024 |language=en |date=16 June 2023}}</ref>
* {{flag|Syria}} − Developed a localized version of the Nodong missile. Reportedly received 50 missiles and 7 TELs from North Korea in 2000.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cordesman |first1=Anthony H. |last2=Nerguizian |first2=Aram |last3=Popescu |first3=Inout C. |title=Israel and Syria: The Military Balance and Prospects of War |date=2008 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-0-313-35521-9 |pages=204−205 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ooDDEAAAQBAJ&dq=nodong+missile+syria&pg=PA204 |language=en}}</ref> According to the [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]], the [[Syrian Arab Army]] doesn't operate MRBMs as of 2024{{sfn|IISS|2024a|page=386}}

===Failed bids===
* {{flag|Iraq|1991}} − Prior to the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], Baghdad placed an order for Nodong missiles and made a $10 million down payment, but North Korea never delivered the missiles.{{sfn|Pinkston|2008|page=20}}

==See also==
* [[Strategic Rocket Forces (North Korea)]]
* [[North Korean missile tests]]
* [[North Korean defense industry]]
* [[Military of North Korea]]
== Notes ==
{{Notelist|group=efn}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite report |title=Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat |url=https://www.nasic.af.mil/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=F2VLcKSmCTE%3d&portalid=19 |website=National Air and Space Intelligence Center |publisher=Defense Intelligence Ballistic Missile Analysis Committee |access-date=6 November 2024 |date=2017 |ref={{SfnRef|DIBMAC|2017}}}}
*{{cite journal |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=Chapter Five: Asia |journal=The Military Balance |date=12 February 2024 |volume=124 |issue=1 |pages=218–327 |doi=10.1080/04597222.2024.2298593 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/04597222.2024.2298593 |access-date=6 November 2024 |language=en |issn=0459-7222 |ref={{SfnRef|IISS|2024}} |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |url-access=subscription }}
*{{cite journal |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=Chapter Six: Middle East and North Africa |journal=The Military Balance |date=12 February 2024 |volume=124 |issue=1 |pages=328–395 |doi=10.1080/04597222.2024.2298594 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/04597222.2024.2298594 |access-date=6 November 2024 |language=en |issn=0459-7222 |ref={{SfnRef|IISS|2024a}} |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |url-access=subscription }}
*{{cite book |last1=Pinkston |first1=Daniel A. |title=The North Korean Ballistic Missile Program |date=2008 |publisher=Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College |isbn=978-1-58487-342-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YckrAAAAYAAJ |language=en}}

==External links==
* [http://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/no-dong/ CSIS Missile Threat - No-Dong 1]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141014164808/http://cns.miis.edu/stories/pdfs/060321.pdf CNS report North Korea's Ballistic Missile Capabilities 2006]
* [[Center for Nonproliferation Studies]], [https://web.archive.org/web/20150515004107/http://cns.miis.edu/archive/country_north_korea/msl.htm North Korea's Ballistic Missile Program]
* National Threat Initiative, [http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/NK/Missile/1363.html Nodong: Overview and Technical Assessment]

{{DPRK missiles}}

[[Category:Ballistic missiles of North Korea]]
[[Category:Medium-range ballistic missiles]]
[[Category:Medium-range ballistic missiles of North Korea]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1990s]]