Hwasong-10 is based on a SLBM, likely
R-27 Zyb, but is slightly longer. It used a
hypergolic combination of
unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) as fuel and
nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) as oxidizer, which is similar to the liquid-fueled 4D10 engine of R-27. These propellants are much more advanced than the kerosene compounds used in North Korea's
Scud and
Hwasong-7 (Nodong) missiles. Once the fuel/oxidizer combination are fed into the missile, it could maintain a 'ready to launch' condition for several days, or even weeks, like the R-27 SLBM, in moderate ambient temperatures. A fueled Hwasong-10 would not have the structural strength to be safely land-transported, so the missile would have to be fueled at the launch site. It was originally believed that the rocket motors of Hwasong-10 were the same as those within the second stage of the
Taepodong-2, which North Korea unsuccessfully test fired in 2006. However analysis of the
Unha-3 launch, believed to be based on the Taepodong-2, showed that the second stage did not use the same fuel as the R-27, and is probably based on
Hwasong-7 rocket technology. However, it is unlikely that North Korea uses IRFNA propellants which would reduce its range by about half, after the experts acknowledged that the 22 June 2016 test could have had a range of if the missile was not launched in the
lofted trajectory. It was also decided that, as the
Korean People's Army's
MAZ-547A/MAZ-7916
transporter erector launcher could carry 20 tonnes, and the R-27 Zyb was only 14.2 tonnes, the R-27 Zyb's fuel/oxidizer tank could be extended by approximately . The missile has a
circular error probable of and is capable of carrying a warhead.
Naming Hwasong-10 is also known as
Musudan (), named after
a village near where North Korea test-fires missile. The missile also has several external names, including
BM-25,
KN-07,
Mirim and
Nodong-B. ==History==