The Hwasong-8 (Korean: 《화성-8》형; Hancha: 火星-8型; lit. Mars Type 8) is a North Korean missile claimed to be mounting a hypersonic glide vehicle, which was first tested on 27 September 2021. The first launch occurred in September, a month with a total of four missile launches. As it is supposedly a hypersonic missile, the higher speed would allow it to reach its target in shorter time and additional maneuverability would give it a better chance at defeating missile defenses.^[8] Japanese tracking data from a test launch suggest it is a hypersonic ballistic missile, as North Korea described it.^[9]

It is possible that the Hwasong-8 was renamed to Hwasong-12B between September 2021 and July 2023.^[10]

Images of the Hwasong-8
Launch of the missile
The missile, as displayed in Self-Defence 2021

The missile has been reported to be based on either a shortened Hwasong-14 first stage, or a Hwasong-12.^[7][11] However, the distance between the verniers and the main chamber on the motor suggest that the base of the missile is the Hwasong-14, as it has a slightly longer gap between those. Compared to the original Hwasong-14, the fuel tanks of the main stage would have been shortened by around a quarter.^[4]

The hypersonic vehicle is mounted on top of the missile, and has a shape typical to other such vehicles, such as the DF-ZF,^[12] with fins for the aerodynamic control of the vehicle while in flight. However, as data for the trajectory of the missile was not released, it is impossible to determine the trajectory of the reentry vehicle, although the missile was unlikely to have flown over Japan in a flatter trajectory, while a lofted trajectory is unsuitable for testing such vehicles, as the glide vehicle would then reenter at a near-vertical angle.^[7]

The missile is the sixth consecutive successful flight of the Paektusan (RD-250) rocket motor, which is also used by the Hwasong-12, -14 and -15 but also demonstrated other technologies, such as the ampoulisation of fuel, where fuel can be loaded into the missile months or years before a launch, reducing the time for preparing a launch of a liquid fuel missile.^[13][7] However, the actual impact of ampoulisation may have been overstated, as it appears that rather than the Soviet method of fueling and sealing the submarine-launched ballistic missile at the factory; instead, what is likely used is just the use of storable liquid fuel, which has probably already been practised on the Hwasong-10 and onwards, or the addition of membranes to seal off the propellent tank until launch. The use of 'ampoules' also signifies the importance of liquid fueled missiles in North Korea, that it is unlikely to develop a fully solid-fuel missile force, furthered by the fact that North Korea has had more experience with developing liquid fuel missiles.^[12]

According to the Joint Chief of Staff, the missile 'could be intercepted', if it flies at a speed of Mach 3.^[13] However, if it can reach hypersonic speeds, it would be able to reach the southern regions of South Korea in around a minute, compared to five or six for a Scud missile, which could be too short a time to alert missile defences.^[8]

The missile displayed at the defence exhibition in October 2021 had some noticeable differences, compared to the version that was launched in September. In the exhibition, the warhead was most likely mounted on a Hwasong-12^[4] and the missile was seen mounted on a MAZ-547, also used by the Hwasong-12, though that is a 'significantly' longer missile than was tested in September. It is unknown whether the main stage of the rocket used for the Hwasong-8 launch would be used for future launches, or be used for different payloads in the future.^[12]

The plans to launch 'hypersonic' missile were already indicated in the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea as part of the Five-Year Plan for Defense Science Development,^[14] where Kim Jong Un also listed other weapons, such as solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles.^[7][15] Although North Korea already has missiles like the Hwasong-11A (KN-23) and Hwasong-11B (KN-24),^[7] gliding vehicles are likely more able to survive missile defenses, and the experience from these short-range missiles would have helped the development of this missile.^[7]

Hwasong-8 made its public debut on 27 September 2021, when a test-fire was carried out. On 11 October 2021, Hwasong-8 was displayed at the "Self-Defence 2021" military exhibition.^[3]

There has been one known test so far:

The launch of the missile also served a political purpose, in demonstrating the government's ability to continue bolstering its deterrence, showing the accomplishments while also potentially giving legitimacy and prestige at a time where there is much attention paid towards hypersonic missiles. It also likely served an international purpose, as the launch had indeed attracted a wide range of attention, such as 'joining a race headed by major military powers to deploy the advanced weapons system', as Reuters wrote,^[19] or that it 'could change the military equation in East Asia', according to a CNN commentary.^[20] However, the majority of ballistic missiles of North Korea already reenter at hypersonic speeds, but the still improve chances in survival of the warhead, although these reentry vehicles are significantly more expensive than a traditional reentry vehicle, and is unlikely to form more than a small part of its missile force. This has also appeared to be part of a growing arms race in Korea,^[21] with this missile demonstrating its technological prowess over South Korea.^[12]

Hwasong-8 has an version fitted with maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV). Its presumed official designation is Hwasong-12A.^[10] The missile is also known as Hypersonic Missile Type 2 (Korean: 극초음속 미사일 2형) under South Korean naming convention.^[22]

It was test-fired twice, on 5 January and 11 January 2022.^[23]

• DF-17 and DF-ZF
• Hwasong-12A
• Hwasong-12B
• Hwasong-16B