Exclusive: North Korea Unveils Enhanced Cheonma-2 Tank Competing with Modern Main Battle Tanks.

Following the recent release of images on North Korean social media platforms on May 3, 2025, new insights have emerged into the latest version of the Cheonma-2, also referred to as the M2020, North Korea's domestically developed main battle tank. These photos, taken during a visit by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un to a defense production facility, reveal a significantly upgraded platform compared to the version first unveiled in the 2020 military parade celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The new version of North Korea’s Cheonma-2 main battle tank, unveiled in May 2025, features advanced protection systems, improved turret design, and modernized optics. Inset: the original 2020 version, highlighting key upgrades in firepower and survivability. (Picture source: Social Network)

The new Cheonma-2 follows a conventional main battle tank layout, with the driver positioned centrally at the front of the hull, the turret mounted in the middle, and the powerpack housed in the rear. While the chassis retains the general configuration of the earlier model, the turret design shows a notable resemblance to South Korea’s K2 Black Panther. This may indicate either reverse-engineering or conceptual imitation, a pattern that has previously been seen in North Korean armored vehicle development.

One of the most critical advancements in this new iteration is the apparent integration of a modern Active Protection System (APS). Visual cues suggest the presence of radar modules and countermeasure launchers that resemble components of Israel's Iron Fist APS, produced by Elbit Systems. These systems are designed to detect incoming projectiles, such as anti-tank missiles and RPGs, and launch countermeasures to neutralize the threat before impact. Mounted on the turret roof are two groups of four counter-missile launchers, likely intended to deploy interceptors or decoy flares upon threat detection. These upgrades reflect a strategic emphasis on crew survivability and defense against modern top-attack and tandem-warhead threats.

Complementing these defenses is a newly installed remotely operated weapon station (ROWS) located on the left side of the turret, armed with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. This system allows the crew to engage aerial and infantry threats without exposing themselves. The right side of the turret houses two launchers for anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), which provide additional long-range anti-armor capability, significantly boosting the tank’s offensive versatility.

Optical systems have also been upgraded, with new sensors seamlessly integrated into the turret armor. A central panoramic sight on the turret roof offers the commander a full 360-degree field of view, enhancing target acquisition, situational awareness, and battlefield management. Compared to its predecessor, the new Cheonma-2 features reinforced frontal armor, suggesting an effort to increase protection against kinetic and chemical energy projectiles. The sides of the hull are now fitted with advanced Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) and additional armored skirts that protect the suspension system, increasing resistance to mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

To bolster defense in close-quarters or urban environments, the tank retains the use of wire cage armor (slat armor) on the rear sections of the turret and hull. This is a relatively low-cost method to defeat RPGs and shaped-charge warheads, and its continued presence indicates North Korea’s concern over asymmetric anti-tank threats.

In terms of firepower, while the exact caliber has not been officially confirmed, the main gun appears to be a 125mm smoothbore cannon, in line with Russian and Chinese tank standards. This gun likely supports both conventional armor-piercing and high-explosive ammunition, and may be compatible with ATGM rounds fired through the barrel, a capability typical of Eastern bloc designs. The inclusion of modern fire control systems, though speculative, would be essential to achieving accuracy comparable to current generation MBTs.

When compared to other contemporary main battle tanks such as South Korea’s K2 Black Panther, Turkey’s Altay, Germany’s Leopard 2A8, France’s Leclerc XLR, or the American M1A2 SEP V3, the Cheonma-2 still lags in terms of digital networking, mobility, and possibly fire control sophistication. The K2, for example, features advanced composite armor, a highly automated fire control system, and a hydro-pneumatic suspension for superior cross-country mobility. The Leopard 2A8 integrates Trophy APS, fully digital battlefield integration, and state-of-the-art optics. The Leclerc XLR has been upgraded with enhanced digital command systems and a new remotely operated turret-mounted machine gun. At the same time, the M1A2 SEP V3 emphasizes survivability through improved armor and counter-IED measures, along with advanced thermal sights and new data-link capabilities.

In conclusion, the development of the latest Cheonma-2 main battle tank underscores North Korea’s determination to modernize its armored forces despite its economic constraints and international sanctions. This newest version reflects an ambitious attempt to incorporate features commonly found in advanced Western and Asian MBTs, such as active protection systems, improved modular armor, modern optics, and remote weapon stations. While the visual and conceptual similarities to tanks like the K2 Black Panther, Leopard 2A8, and M1A2 SEP V3 are apparent, the Cheonma-2 likely falls short in terms of system integration, electronic warfare capabilities, and real-world battlefield performance.

Nevertheless, the Cheonma-2 represents a significant leap forward for North Korean armor doctrine. By integrating components that mimic high-end APS technologies and upgrading survivability and firepower, North Korea is clearly attempting to narrow the qualitative gap with its technologically superior adversaries. The tank’s enhancements suggest a growing awareness of modern battlefield threats, particularly from precision-guided munitions and UAV-assisted targeting.

However, without the combat-proven reliability, logistical support structures, or advanced sensor fusion found in its Western counterparts, the Cheonma-2 remains more of a regional threat than a global contender. Still, its deployment will force South Korea and allied forces to account for a more capable North Korean armored threat, potentially shifting tactical calculations in any future confrontation on the Korean Peninsula.