North Korea shows off new "Hwasan 31" compact nuclear warhead

[Sineva]

https://www.nknews.org/2023/03/kim-jong-un-inspects-warheads-as-part-of-push-to-produce-more-nuclear-material/

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a nuclear warhead. A cutout diagram displayed behind Kim features warheads with the name “Hwasan-31” that look similar to the ones he is inspecting. | Image: Rodong Sinmun (March 28, 2023)

Diagrams displayed on the wall appear to show the Hwasan-31 nuclear warhead fitted onto the 600mm KN-25 MLRS missile, the new underwater drone revealed last week, the Hwasal-1 and Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missiles, the KN-23 and KN-24 SRBMs and a CRBM tested in recent weeks | Images: Rodong Sinmun (March 28, 2023), edited by NK News

From left to right, three officials joining Kim are top nuclear weapons generals under the MGB Jang Chang Ha and Kim Jong Sik in military uniform and top nuclear engineer Hong Sung Mu in a black suit. Hong was last seen with Kim at the February military parade. The man in military uniform holding a pointer stick and the man in black on the right were also present at Kim’s Sept. 2017 nuclear warhead inspection. | Image: Rodong Sinmum (March 28, 2023)

Photos show Kim and nuclear program officials inspecting warheads intended to be fitted on systems including the recently tested Hwasal-2 cruise missile (top image) and 600mm MLRS rocket (on left of bottom image). He appeared in the same room inspecting Hwasong-12 nose cones in an image published on Jan. 1 this year. | Images: Rodong Sinmun (March 28, 2023)

Kim is seen inspecting the nosecone of a KN-25 600mm MLRS rocket (top left), a KN-23 SRBM (top right), standing next to a Hwasal-2 cruise missile (bottom left) and holding a meeting with top nuclear program officials (bottom right) | Images: Rodong Sinmun (March 28, 2023)

 

[mack8]

Great stuff, thanks Sineva. Any idea of the yeld from a warhead that size?
PS: Sineva, just noticed your flag, are you really from DPRK ? Thanks.

 

[Muhammed45]

Japan can count on NK for revenge, Hiroshima and Nagasaki

 

[yugocrosrb95]

Great stuff, thanks Sineva. Any idea of the yeld from a warhead that size?
PS: Sineva, just noticed your flag, are you really from DPRK ? Thanks.

Chances of him being in DPRK is equal to zero.

Anyway size estimate range from 40 centimeter diameter with 90 centimeter length to 50 centimeter diameter with 100 centimeter length.
Since North Korea has conducted in total 6 nuclear tests with progressive complexity, it could be fully digitally designed warhead.
Since there is enough data from those tests to have accurate simulation of the yield that it should have with its design.
It would not be surprising if its just smaller iteration of thermonuclear weapon used during 6th nuclear test.
Just simply made smaller while retaining explosive power of 200 to 300 kiloton yield.

 

[ThunderCat]

This country could probably start competing in the global arms trade and sustain itself.
It could easily sell arms to countries that are considered "hostile" in the West.

 

[villageidiot]

This country could probably start competing in the global arms trade and sustain itself.
It could easily sell arms to countries that are considered "hostile" in the West.

They are under sanctions and almost no country will want sanctions on themselves, no matter how hostile they are to the west

 

[ThunderCat]

They are under sanctions and almost no country will want sanctions on themselves, no matter how hostile they are to the west

Unless they are sanctioned themselves. Like the Russian Federation buying their goodies for the war in Ukraine or the Iranians as well.