FACTBOX: North Korea's Taepodong-2 long-range missile
(Reuters) - North Korea has told global agencies it will launch a satellite in early April that U.S. and South Korean officials believe will really be a test of its longest-range ballistic missile, the Taepodong-2.
Following are some facts about the missile.
SPECIFICATIONS
The Taepodong-2 is a two- or three-stage missile with a designed range of 6,700 km (4,160 miles), which means it could hit Alaska. It has a possible warhead payload of 650 kg to 1,000 kg (1,450 to 2,205 lb) in its short range configuration. One study has said that, with a reduced payload, the missile could travel 10,000 km (6,200 miles), which would theoretically put the western U.S. mainland within range. Research reports say a two-stage Taepodong-2 is about 35 meters long and has a diameter of 2.2 meters.
PURPOSE
North Korea says the launch, expected from April 4 to 8, is intended to put a satellite into space under its peaceful scientific program. The U.S. and South Korean governments believe it is a disguised test launch of the Taepodong-2, part of the North's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons program. Missiles and their technology are also a lucrative source of income for the impoverished state, and research reports say Iran has shown interest in buying the Taepodong-2.
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS
The Taepodong-2 has suffered from design problems brought on by merging a Chinese design with the design of its medium-range Rodong ballistic missiles. This has led to structural flight problems that also decreased the missile's intended range.
The Taepodong-2 has never flown successfully. A test launch in 2006 failed when the missile fizzled and destructed about 40 seconds into flight because of what is generally believed to be a structural failure in its airframe, propulsion system or fuel tank.
THE NAME AND THE BASE
The North rejects the name Taepodong, which was the area of the missile launch base located on the shore of the country's northeastern province that borders China and Russia.
The North has used the names Rodong, also the name of its mid-range missile with a range of 1,000 km to 1,400 km (620 to 870 miles), Hwasong (Mars) and more recently Unha (galaxy).
SOUTH KOREA
South Korea, with financial and technological resources far superior to the impoverished North, is bound under the Missile Technology Control Regime to developing ballistic missiles with ranges of 300 km (185 miles) or less.
The backbone of its missile arsenal is the 300-km ballistic missile named Hyun-mu. It has successfully developed a cruise missile that is known to strike a target at 1,000 km.
(Source: U.S. Congressional Research Service, South Korea's Defense Ministry, GlobalSecurity.org, Reuters)
