As North Korea has been found to have hacked various Russian high-tech weapons companies for years, analysts say that Russian technology may have been reflected in high-tech weapons such as the military reconnaissance satellite “Manrigyeong 1” recently released by North Korea. It is said that hacking was the “secret” of North Korea’s progress in developing space projectiles, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and nuclear-powered submarines despite economic difficulties such as food shortages.
Espionage in the Sky: How North Korea Borrowed Russian Satellite Tech for Manrigyeong 1
According to the National Strategic Research Institute and the Defense Security Forum, the Manrigyeong 1, which was unveiled in April, is believed to have reflected the technology that hacked Russian satellite company Sputronics. Russia is known to have never officially transferred satellite-related technology to North Korea. Since satellite core technology is a state secret, it is extremely limited to hand over even allies. As a result, North Korea seems to have started to steal technology through cyberspace.
According to the video data of North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency, Manrigyeong 1 has four folding solar panels in the shape of a hexagonal pillar. It is estimated to be 1.3m long and weigh 300kg. The square and hexagonal column satellite developed by Sputronics is 0.1m long and ultra-small, so it is very different from that of North Korea in size, but its appearance itself is similar. Among the various types of satellites, North Korea’s choice of hexagonal pillars can be seen as an intention to follow Russia’s technology.
North Korea’s Cyber Espionage: Cloning Russian Military Technology
The Lightning 5 (KN-06), North Korea’s surface-to-air missile, is also identical to the Russian S-300 and S-400. Lightning No. 5 and S-400 are the same in the form of four cylindrical launch tubes per vehicle. The mobile launchers are also matched by five-axis and ten-wheelers. Radar and radar vehicles that detect fighter jets or missiles that are intercepted are almost similar to the two missile systems. Lightning No. 5 and S-300 have similar ranges of 100 to 150 kilometers. Russian missiles have a wider range and a superior interception rate, but they resemble technical principles. North Korea’s hacking of Almaz-Antei, which produces S-400, is likely to have had an impact.
In 2019, North Korea hacked into Uralbagonjaboard, a Russian tank company, and secured various design drawings. In fact, the lower body of the new tank “M-2020,” which North Korea unveiled in 2020, is in the form of a seven-axis like the Russian main tank “T-14 Armata.” The length of the gun barrel and the appearance of the turret are similar.
North Korea is also known to have hacked the rocket design department of NPO Marsh, a Russian missile company, in 2021. Founded in 1944, NPO Marsh was involved in the development of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, ICBMs, and space projectiles. It is still playing a leading role in the development of hypersonic missiles, satellite technology, and next-generation ballistic missiles.
Fueling the Threat: North Korea’s Liquid Fuel ICBM Pursuit Through Hacking
Experts analyzed that North Korea may have helped develop liquid fuel ICBMs through the hacking. Among the weapons developed by NPO Marsh is the UR-100N (RS-18A), a liquid fuel ICBM with “fuel ampullation” technology. Liquid fuel missiles cannot be launched quickly because they have to be refueled just before launch, and ampullation, a technology that injects fuel into the engine and seals it during the manufacturing stage, enables rapid launch like solid fuel missiles. Coincidentally, however, North Korea announced that it succeeded in amplifying missile fuel in 2021, when North Korea succeeded in invading the NPO Marsh. Moon Jong-hyun, director of the Genius Security Center, said, “North Korea is expected to continue all-round hacking into allies such as Russia and China to secure advanced defense and space technology.”
source – https://www.chosun.com/politics/diplomacy-defense/2023/09/07/DKQTRQ44E5BNBPJIPQJZFKXG64/