This is How Much It Costs to Launch a North Korean Missile, the Value is Fantastic!

PYONGYANG – Strength North Korean missiles consists of various different types. Call it from ballistic missiles of the SRBM, MRBM to ICBM types.

So far, North Korea has been known as a country that is very closed off from the outside world. So tight, not much information can be obtained from this country, including in terms of military weapons.

Despite that, North Korea is said to be secretly continuing to build its military power through many powerful weapons. One of them is missiles.

Looking back, North Korea itself has often been caught red-handed testing its own missiles. Some people are confused about how the country finances its seemingly endless missile tests.

North Korea Missile Launch Costs

In its missile tests, North Korea usually tests dozens of missiles in a matter of days. In 2022, Pyongyang set a record by testing 23 missiles, including a nuclear-capable ballistic missile designed to destroy South Korean and U.S. targets.

Quoting the Los Angeles Times page, Thursday (8/29/2024), the test at that time included the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile which was still under development. While the rest, there were also several other types of missiles whose names were not known.

Regarding North Korea’s missile launch, a security analyst at Rand Corp named Soo Kim said the cost of a North Korean missile test could range from several million dollars to USD10 million or around Rp153.9 billion (exchange rate of Rp15,396 per USD). However, the exact amount itself varies depending on the type of missile launched.

Bruce Bennet, another expert at Rand Corp., told Radio Free Asia that the short-range missile North Korea tested had an estimated cost of up to $3 million. The long-range missile could cost up to $10 million.

Referring to the cost estimates above, the total funds spent by North Korea to test dozens of missiles at one time could reach USD50 million (Rp769 billion) to USD75 million (Rp1.1 trillion).

However, it is again true that the cost estimates are still rough. This is because accurate information is difficult to obtain due to the secretive nature of the Pyongyang government, especially in military matters.

Then, regarding the source of funds, most of it is taken from the state budget. As is known, the development of military weapons in the Kim Jong Un era is indeed a priority.

In addition to the high number of missile tests, there are also signs that North Korea is expanding its ammunition facilities. There is even a possibility that Pyongyang is trying to mass-produce newly developed weapons.

Thus the review of the costs of launching North Korean missiles.

(wbs)