The Ballistic Missile & Space Industry

The fourth year plus history of the evolution of the DPRK Defense Industry ballistic missile development started in 1966 as the government command economy poured in its State controlled allocation of material resources, personnel, man hours and equipments which is broken down between strictly military programs and civil military duel purpose program, into the military development of the ballistic missile industries. Many young bright promising student from the various engineering universities such as the Kim Chaek University of Technology as well as the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology were sent to the various research institutes. The Second Academy of Natural Sciences, in charge of the DPRK weapons research and development, header today by Choe Chun-Sik utilized many of these graduates in missile development. It is suggested that today on the order of 3,000 missile engineers work in the DPRK. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

The Machine-building Industry minister is headed by Po Pyong Ju reports to the National Defense Commission headed by Kim Jong-Un via Jon Pyong Ho Secretary of Military Industry. All are employed under the same employer roof that the authoritarian DPRK government and its State Organs – (NDC) National Defense Council – Defense Commission-Ministry of the Peoples Armed Forces–Ministries-Machine building industry, DPRK National Space Agency (DPRKNSA/DPRKSSDB). This major organization is the leading “DPRK Committee of Space Technology” which is probably the State Committee that is responsible for the State long-term plan for space and ballistic missile development that must include much of the ballistic missile military leadership and associated industry leaders responsible to the controlling DPRK leadership centered on Kim Jong-Un absolute authority through the National Defense Commission. This in turn is linked to the 2 nd Economic Committee which in turn is linked to the 4 the General Bureau and its Number 2 Research Center and the DPRK Peoples Army Artillery Guidance Bureau and all the associated design bureau and testing organizations under their control spread over twenty or more industry infrastructure site. All of this is related to the Ministry of Korean People’s Armed Forces headed by Kim Yong-chun. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Disappeared but not punitive purged of the DPRK Space Agency/DPRK State Space Development Bureau side of the house is Ryu Kum-Chol Deputy Director DPRK Space Technology Committee and Director of the Sohae Satellite Launching Center Jang Myong-Jim for the April 2012 failed launch attempt, a public embarrassment for the regime.

Other related support services to these primary industries entities come under the State Academy of Sciences headed by Jang Chol, General Federation of Science and Technology headed by Chairman Ri Jo-Bang, Post & Telecommunications headed by Ryu Yong Sop, Electric Industry headed by O Su Yong, Ministry of Chemical Industry headed by Vice Prime Minister Ri Mu-Yong, Metals Industry headed by Kim Thae Bong, Labor ministry headed by Jong Yong Su, State planning Commission headed by Kim Kwang Rin and especially Construction and Building Materials Industries headed by Tong Jong Ho. Beyond that the Changkwang Trading Company, Korea Mining and Development Corp.(Komid), Mokong Trading Corp. and Sino-Ki for missile technology proliferation trade operations a major source of hard currency for the DPRK. (1, 2, 3) This is over and above the issues of the full circle technology transfer going on between Iran and the DPRK. This can be no better emphasized than by the quote from the Iranian News Agency (IRNA, 2-25-2009), of the statement by Choe Tae-bok the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly Chairman as he stated “We consider all Iranian technological achievements as our own achievements.”

The DPRK National Space Agency (DPRKNSA) State Commission with members of the National Defense Commission including Jon Pyong Ho, on Kim’s right Ju Kyu Chang, on Kim’s left, Ju Pyong Ju and other space industry leaders and military support personnel all headed under the late Kim Jung Il, now under the leadership of Kim Jung-Un leadership.

During the 7th session of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) April 1, 2013, eight agenda, which were decided in the PCC plenary session were discussed for implementation. The following three measures were decided with regards to North Korea’s nuclear and missile developments: Adoption of a ordinance ‘on consolidating North Korea’s nuclear power status for self-defense’; Adoption of a law on space development; Decision to establish the National Space Development Bureau.

The fact that the SPA established the National Space Development Bureau for the purpose of “the Republic to collectively lead and manage all space activities,” it can be interpreted that North Korea will implement its “Byungjin” policy while collectively managing the peaceful and military uses of space.