HS-15 is about 50 percent of a Cosmos-3 class launcher, so it would be limited to payloads to low orbit of 500 - 700 kg. Most recon birds go to very high inclination orbits, and that reduces payload further.
Right now, NK has problems just getting a small satellite to work, let alone a sophisticated recon sat.
As always, I am talking about near term, not in that future where we are all living on Mars, and NK has an SS-18 class ICBM.
If that happens to be accurate estimate than solid fuel ICBM is not far off.
If they get the SLBM to work, why not just use that as their ground based IRBM/ICBM (I think the range is a little short if the real target is the US main land, but puts all of NK's other classic enemies at risk).Never understood the separate program philosophy, yes an SLBM will cost more, but more than the development costs of two rocket programs?
http://special.tass.ru/politika/2688450http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/NKorea/Kwangmyongsong4ndot2.phphttp://www.northkoreatech.org/2016/03/03/north-koreas-satellite-caught-on-camera/http://m.yna.co.kr/mob2/en/contents_en.jsp?cid=AEN20170510009000315&site=0400000000&mobileWhat problem? It works and spatial resolution is good enough to spot aircraft carrier.
It is far more likely to see North Korean on moon before first human lands on Mars.
Did you actually read those links, and paid attention to the dates? The source of the released images are unclear; the zarya.info gives no estimates of actual transmissions, or how the height compare to random noise from other satellites, and explicitely has the heading "Is Kwangmyongsong 4 Alive? That is a big question. ". The Tass.ru image merely finds a trackable object in space, and has no indication whether it works, or not. Timer-based solar panel deploy is something different from working ground control and changing orbital inclinations after weeks, months or years - normal lifespan for sats. So i'd be very hesitant to characterize that satellite as working based on the evidence presented. At most, you could conclude it 'worked' for a few days based on the (presumed) solar panel deployment or stabilization system kicking in - changes in orbit which could also be caused by say a pressure vessel failing, or a battery depressurizing. Certainly the statement 'they have no trouble' is not supported by that evidence.
i'd like to see your argument for this, but it'd be off-topic. Let me just instead say - I very much doubt that.
I would not be surprised if north korea soft landed on the moon within the next decade. Now that their missile and nuclear programs are at mature level they can transfer some of the tech and resources back into their space program.I think 2018 will see some interesting developments in terms of NK's space technology.
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/15/politics/mattis-north-korea-icbm/index.htmlMattis says NK ICBM cannot strike the US mainland.<snip>BTW, with these near vertical flights, I am surprised that the first stages are not being recovered, since they fly with lower velocity than a ballistic flight.
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/15/politics/mattis-north-korea-icbm/index.htmlMattis says NK ICBM cannot strike the US mainland.How to square this statement with the obvious improvement in ICBM tech in NK? Either Mattis is saying that NK does not have a weaponized nuke yet, or the NK ICBM is flying with no significant payload.
It is possible that DoD is not detecting any transmissions from test flights after payload separation, or there is no payload separation.
BTW, with these near vertical flights, I am surprised that the first stages are not being recovered, since they fly with lower velocity than a ballistic flight.
Was this previously reported as an HS-10 launch failure?