Missile General Bureau

The Missile General Bureau (Korean: 미싸일총국) is the North Korean special bureau that oversees the development of missiles for the Korean People's Army (KPA).[lower-alpha 1] The bureau is firstly observed on the venue of the enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea held on 7 February 2023 by showing its own flag and it was likely established in November 2022.[3][4]

This article is about the Military R&D unit of the Korean People's Army. For similar branch within the Army, see Korean People's Army Strategic Force.
Missile General Bureau
미싸일총국
Active30 April 2016 (2016-04-30)
Country North Korea
Allegiance Workers' Party of Korea
Branch Korean People's Army
TypeMilitary research and development
SizeClassified
Commanders
Head of the MGBGeneral Jang Chang-ha[1]
Deputy head of the MGBGeneral Kim Jong-sik[1]
Insignia
Flag
Insignia used by ICBMS
미싸일총국
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationMissa-il Chongguk
McCune–ReischauerMissa-il Ch'ongguk

Major members

On a silo launch test for short-range ballistic missile KN-23 on 19 March 2023, Kim Jong-sik and Jang Chang-ha were presumed to be the members of the new agency.[1]

Uniform

On military parade of 75th anniversary of KPA's founding, the soldiers wearing Missile General Bureau uniform and patch were observed. The soldiers wearing MGU was standing next to the KPA soldiers on mobile transporter erector launcher for KN-23. At the same time, three different flags with red colored background were observed, too.[5]

Missile tests conducted by the bureau
  • On 19 February 2023, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced that the 1st Red Flag Hero Company affiliated with Missile General Bureau guided a launch drill of Hwasong-17 on the day before. The company has rich launching experience among the units operating ICBMs described by the KCNA in the report.[6]
  • On 9 March 2023, the soldiers from Missile General Bureau held a salvo launch of 6 unknown model of close-range ballistic missiles (CRBM).[7] KCNA the next day stated that it's missile launches were conducted by the 8th Fire Attack Company.[8]
  • On 16 March 2023, Hwasong-17 missile drill was conducted by the Missile General Bureau.[9]
  • On 13 April 2023, the soldiers from the 2nd Red Flag Company affiliated with Missile General Bureau conducted first Hwasong-18 launch.[10]
  • On 13 July 2023, KCNA announced that the 2nd Red Flag Company affiliated with Missile General Bureau conducted a second test launch of Hwasong-18 on the day before.[11]

Organization

The Missile General Bureau who supervise missile tests have organizations to supervise each tests.

  • 1st Red Flag Hero Company
  • 2nd Red Flag Company

Notes
  1. It is also likely to be the operator for the ballistic missiles that are capable of carrying nuclear warheads in the KPA since 2023 via the report from Yonhap on 17 March 2023.[2]

References
  1. @ColinZwirko (19 March 2023). "Also Kim Jong Sik confirmed wearing the MGB arm patch, so as others have suggested recently, it's likely he and Jang Chang Ha are these MGB commanding officers mentioned in state media reports of recent tests. Could also sort of see it on Jang at last week's test" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. Kim, Jiheon; Kim, Ji-yeon (17 March 2023). "北, 화성-17형 "신뢰성 검증" 자평…지구사진 공개로 '기술과시', 전문가들 군사위성 준비 관측…'미사일총국 지휘관 참관' 운용주체 변화 시사" [North Korea, "reliability verification" with self-assessment for Hwasong-17... "technology presentation" by the earth's photo publicly] (in Korean). Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  3. Shin, Jin-Woo (8 February 2023). "N. Korea establishes 'Missile General Bureau'". The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  4. "North Korea 'expands, reorganizes' military units with operational combat missions: KCNA". Seoul: Yonhap. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  5. @ColinZwirko (12 February 2023). "Twit by Colin Zwirko" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. "ICBM Launching Drill Staged in DPRK". KCNA. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  7. @ColinZwirko (9 March 2023). ""8th Fire Attack Company" soldiers (of unspecified unit) seem to be wearing this Missile General Bureau (MGB) patch again, which is entirely consistent and they were wearing them with this apparent same system at the parade too" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Watches Fire Assault Drill". KCNA. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  9. "Demonstration of Toughest Response Posture of DPRK's Strategic Forces | ICBM Hwasongpho-17 Launched". KCNA. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  10. "Another Mighty Entity Showing Continuous Development of Strategic Force Unveiled in DPRK | Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Guides First Test-Fire of New-Type ICBM Hwasongpho-18 on Spot". KCNA. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  11. "Another Event of Great Significance Recorded in Developing Strategic Force of DPRK | Test-fire of New-type ICBM Conducted | Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Guides Test-fire of ICBM Hwasongpho-18". KCNA. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
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