[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] What Tactical Nuclear Weapons Are North Korea and Russia Obsessed With?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Interest in nuclear weapons is increasing as North Korea and Russia mention small nuclear weapons.

Nuclear weapons are divided into strategic and tactical nuclear weapons. Strategic nuclear weapons are used with the intention of ending a war with an adversary. Even a single shot has the power to destroy a major city. If a war using strategic nuclear weapons occurs, a third world war would be inevitable. This is why strategic nuclear weapons are called "unusable weapons."

For this reason, North Korea and Russia are developing tactical nuclear weapons. Tactical nuclear weapons refer to small-scale nuclear missiles or nuclear mines that cause relatively limited casualties in a localized area. They differ from strategic nuclear weapons and are called usable weapons.

If Russia launches a nuclear attack against Ukraine, it is highly likely to fire small nuclear warheads with a yield of less than 1kt (equivalent to 1,000 tons of TNT). This is about one-fifteenth the destructive power of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in August 1945.

However, Russia also has domestic conditions for using nuclear weapons. This is outlined in the document titled "National Policy Principles in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence," signed by President Putin on June 2, 2020. The core content of this document states that "the national policy in the field of nuclear deterrence is defensive in nature and aims to maintain a sufficient level of nuclear forces for the exercise of nuclear deterrence."

The document also states that nuclear weapons may be used if there is reliable information about the launch of ballistic missiles aimed at Russia or its allies' territories, if the enemy uses nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction on Russian or allied territories, if the enemy makes nuclear retaliation impossible against Russia's critical national and military facilities, or if conventional weapons attacks threaten the very existence of the state. There is sufficient justification for attacking Ukraine.

According to a report by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), Russia has a total of 4,477 nuclear warheads. Among these, 1,588 are deployed strategic nuclear warheads. Russia stores 977 strategic nuclear warheads and 1,912 tactical nuclear warheads in stockpiles.

Alongside Russia, North Korea is also keenly focused on developing tactical nuclear weapons. North Korea has previously mentioned "tactical nuclear operations" of new guided weapons.

Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party Central Committee, mentioned in a statement last April that in a hypothetical military confrontation, "inevitably, our nuclear combat power must perform its mission," implying the possibility of nuclear force use against the South. However, there is still no identified evidence that North Korea has secured technology to mount small nuclear warheads on short-range ballistic missiles.

To miniaturize its nuclear weapons, North Korea will need to conduct two to three additional nuclear tests. Olli Heinonen, a former Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a special researcher at the U.S. Stimson Center, also predicted in a phone interview with Voice of America (VOA) on the 2nd that North Korea is likely to conduct tactical nuclear weapon tests for miniaturization in Tunnel No. 3 of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which is currently being restored.

Small nuclear warheads successfully tested in additional nuclear tests are expected to be mounted on various weapons. A representative weapon system is the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

The "mini SLBM" launched by North Korea on the 7th was first revealed at the Defense Development Exhibition last October. It is smaller than the existing Pukguksong series SLBMs and resembles the SRBM KN-23 in appearance. At that time in October last year, this SLBM was launched from the Whale-class submarine (2,000 tons) named "8.24 Hero Ship." This means that a missile capable of striking the entire South Korean territory while the submarine stealthily maneuvers in the East Sea has been developed.

This SLBM is expected to be equipped with a small tactical nuclear warhead with a diameter of less than 60 cm and a warhead weight of about 400 to 500 kg, which North Korea is anticipated to test for power in its upcoming 7th nuclear test.

Government sources said, "North Korea will soon conduct a test of tactical nuclear power in the range of several kilotons (kt, where 1 kt equals the explosive power of 1,000 tons of TNT) and then proceed to advance various weapon systems capable of carrying it."

This SLBM is also known to have the irregular maneuvering characteristics of the KN-23. It performs a "pull-up" maneuver, flying horizontally at low altitude before sharply ascending, which enhances its ability to evade interception missiles, potentially causing significant confusion in our missile defense system. South Korean and U.S. authorities believe that construction of new submarines (upgraded Romeo-class, 3,000 tons) that will carry larger new SLBMs than the mini SLBM has not yet been completed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.