Inside North Korea's Suspected Underground Defense Museum Housing ICBMs and Its Newest Military Weapons.

North Korea has inaugurated a large military museum that may be partially underground, displaying intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the United States, new main battle tanks, drones, and several generations of weapons systems. Presented by Kim Jong Un, the facility brings together some of the most advanced military equipment developed by Pyongyang. Beyond its propaganda purpose, the exhibition provides an opportunity to examine the diversity of North Korea's arsenal, from strategic nuclear missiles to anti-tank systems, loitering munitions, and naval weapons.

North Korea displays a range of military equipment at its newly inaugurated National Defense Revolution Museum, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, multiple rocket launchers, the Chonma-2 main battle tank, drones and other advanced weapons. (Picture source: KCNA)

The new National Defense Revolution Museum may be located within the Hagap complex, near Huichon in the mountainous Chagang Province, approximately 120 kilometers northeast of Pyongyang. Official photographs show extensive windowless galleries with high ceilings and long, continuous walls, large enough to accommodate multiple ballistic missile launch vehicles. This architecture resembles five parallel concrete structures visible in satellite imagery of the Hagap site, which have gradually been covered with earth since construction began in 2024. The distinctive stepped exterior walls and recently developed access roads further support this assessment. However, the museum's precise location has not been officially confirmed.

According to information and photographs released on October 13, 2026, by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the inauguration ceremony took place on October 11 as part of celebrations marking the 81st anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea. The facility is associated with the Second Economic Committee, the organization responsible for North Korea's defense industry. Images published during the event show dozens of military systems, including more than 25 missile launch vehicles and approximately 15 types of drones and naval weapons.

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One of the largest exhibits is the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile, displayed on its transporter-erector-launcher. First presented in 2025, this solid-fuel system represents one of the latest generations of strategic missiles developed by North Korea. Unlike liquid-fueled missiles, solid propulsion allows the propellant to remain stored inside the missile, reducing the preparation procedures required before launch. The Hwasong-20 is designed to reach the continental United States, although its exact range and flight performance have not yet been established through comprehensive publicly documented testing.

A display panel positioned near the missile also depicts a configuration featuring multiple warheads, accompanied by a world map illustrating the areas the weapon could potentially reach. This presentation reflects North Korea's work on multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, known as MIRVs, which could theoretically allow a single ballistic missile to deliver several warheads against separate targets. Such a capability would complicate American missile defense operations by increasing the number of objects requiring tracking and interception. However, the presence of this illustration does not confirm that Pyongyang has mastered the technology.

The same gallery contains the Hwasong-17, a liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, alongside other intermediate-range weapons. The museum also features several submarine-launched ballistic missiles, including systems associated with the Pukguksong family. Their presence reflects Pyongyang's continuing efforts to develop nuclear delivery systems that could eventually be deployed at sea. Nevertheless, possessing missiles designed for submarine launch does not necessarily mean the North Korean Navy has established a permanent and fully operational sea-based nuclear deterrent.

Several hypersonic missile systems are also prominently represented. The Hwasong-16Ma belongs to a category of intermediate-range ballistic missiles associated with the development of maneuverable hypersonic payloads. Another weapon, identified as the Hwasong-11E, is an evolution of the Hwasong-11 tactical missile family designed to carry a hypersonic glide vehicle. Unlike a conventional ballistic trajectory, this type of payload can perform maneuvers during certain phases of flight, making its impact point more difficult to predict. Actual performance nevertheless depends on the flight profile, guidance accuracy, and the vehicle's ability to maintain control at very high speeds.

Artillery systems are also widely represented, particularly the 600 mm multiple rocket launchers. Sometimes designated KN-25, these weapons differ from conventional rocket artillery through their unusually large caliber and use of guided projectiles. Their range is generally estimated at several hundred kilometers, with some assessments suggesting approximately 380 kilometers. North Korea also claims these systems can carry tactical nuclear warheads. This combination of heavy artillery and long-range strike capabilities gives them a particular role in North Korean military planning, especially against military bases and strategic infrastructure in South Korea.

Another section of the museum focuses on cruise missiles and anti-ship weapons. Photographs show several missiles of different sizes and configurations, including systems associated with the Badasuri family. These weapons form part of Pyongyang's efforts to develop strike capabilities against maritime and land targets, complementing its ballistic missile inventory. Several guided weapons designed to engage targets beyond the operator's direct line of sight are also visible. Such systems could theoretically attack objectives that cannot be observed directly from the launch position, provided the necessary detection, communications, and guidance capabilities are available.

The exhibition also includes naval weapons, notably artillery systems and an underwater vehicle whose appearance resembles the Haeil family. Described by Pyongyang as an unmanned underwater attack system capable of carrying a nuclear payload, the Haeil is intended to travel beneath the surface before reaching its designated engagement area. North Korean authorities have previously claimed several tests involving this family of weapons, although their propulsion characteristics, endurance, and ability to reach a target remain difficult to verify independently. Its inclusion in the museum nevertheless illustrates North Korea's interest in asymmetric underwater warfare systems.

Drones occupy several exhibition areas. The photographs show large reconnaissance aircraft, attack drones, and smaller loitering munitions. Displaying these different categories together indicates that North Korea's defense industry is no longer concentrating exclusively on missiles and artillery. It is also developing unmanned systems intended to support intelligence collection, target acquisition, and strike missions.

Armored vehicles form another part of the collection. Among them is the Chonma-2 main battle tank, with several configurations apparently displayed. One example features a modified turret with a higher upper section and a profile that differs from certain earlier versions. The configuration notably moves away from the raised turret shape above the main gun, sometimes described as a humped turret design. The externally mounted anti-tank missile launcher visible on earlier configurations no longer appears in the same position. It may have been removed or replaced by a retractable mechanism, although the available images do not establish which explanation is correct.

These modifications provide additional information about the development of North Korean armored vehicles. Turret design directly influences the distribution of internal space, the installation of sighting systems, the integration of additional armor, and the angles of protection. Relocating an anti-tank missile launcher could also affect how the weapon is employed and its exposure to enemy fire. However, the museum photographs do not establish the exact composition of the armor, the performance of the fire-control system, or the effectiveness of any integrated active protection systems.

The equipment on display does not consist solely of prototypes or weapons intended for military parades. Several families of ballistic missiles, multiple rocket launchers, and cruise missiles have already undergone testing campaigns, while other systems exhibited at the museum remain at stages of development that are more difficult to determine. This distinction matters because mastering a technology involves more than displaying a weapon. It also requires sustained production, representative testing, crew training, and the ability to maintain equipment in service.

The exhibition also comes during a period of increased North Korean ballistic missile testing. On October 12, North Korea launched two missiles whose trajectories were monitored by Japanese authorities. According to Tokyo's assessments, the first projectile traveled approximately 220 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 20 kilometers, while the second exceeded 910 kilometers and reached an altitude of around 70 kilometers. Japanese officials raised the possibility that the second missile followed an irregular trajectory, a characteristic pursued in several North Korean missile programs intended to complicate interception.

The inauguration comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of renewed discussions with Kim Jong Un during a visit to Asia. By bringing together intercontinental missiles, hypersonic weapons, armored vehicles, and unmanned systems, Pyongyang is seeking to portray its defense industry as capable of competing with technologies developed by major military powers. However, the actual effectiveness of several newer systems remains difficult to assess, particularly regarding accuracy, reliability, resistance to countermeasures, and large-scale production. These uncertainties should not lead to an underestimation of North Korea's military capabilities. The country possesses nuclear weapons and a substantial ballistic missile arsenal, even though the performance of certain delivery systems and their ability to deliver nuclear payloads under operational conditions remain difficult to establish. These capabilities are complemented by extensive artillery forces and conventional weapons that can directly threaten South Korea and U.S. forces stationed in the region. Beyond their ability to disrupt or inflict damage, these systems represent a military and strategic instrument that Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo must account for in their defense doctrines, deterrence arrangements, and future missile defense planning.

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Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests include security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.