Haeil

Haeil
TypeUnmanned underwater vehicle
Place of originNorth Korea
Service history
In service2023–present
Production history
DesignedDevelopment started from 2009 or 2012
ManufacturerNorth Korea
VariantsSee § Variants
Specifications
LengthVaries depending on variants
DiameterVaries depending on variants
WarheadHwasan-31
Launch
platform
Coast-based launcher, surface ship, submarine

The Haeil (Korean: 해일; lit. 'Tsunami') is a series of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) produced by North Korea. First unveiled in 2023, the nuclear-capable Haeil has at least five variants, with three of which named by North Korean state media: Haeil-1, Haeil-2 and Haeil-5-23. Developments of Haeil likely started from at least 2009, but North Korea officially began it in 2012 according to state media claims, and its first public test occurred in March 2023; however, before its public debut, more than 50 Haeil tests occurred between 2021 and 2023.

Description

The Haeil is claimed to be a UUV that can secretly attack enemy waters by underwater detonation of nuclear warheads, creating radioactive tsunamis that destroys warships and targets onshore. According to Korean Central Television, Haeil is an "important, super-powerful absolute weapon of the Republic’s nuclear combat forces that will sink the heinous invasion ships all at once with a tidal wave of vengeance".

Haeil can be deployed from coast, towed by surface ships, or launched from Hero Kim Kun Ok submarine. It is capable of carrying Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warhead.

Variants

The Haeil series has at least five variants with different dimensions and capabilities. Three variants are named by North Korean state media.

Initial variant

The initial variant of Haeil has no number in its designation. Despite similarity with Russian Status-6, it uses conventional propulsion, resulting in a relatively slow speed of under 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). According to NK News, it is one of the largest known variants of Haeil series, with a length of over 10 m (33 ft) and a diameter of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).

Haeil-1

The Haeil-1 (《해일-1》형; lit. 'Tsunami Type 1') is claimed to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and generating "radioactive tsunami".

There are multiple estimates of Haeil-1's size. Radio Free Asia uses images from North Korean state media and estimates that Haeil-1 is about 14–16 m (46–52 ft) long and 1–1.2 m (3 ft 3 in – 3 ft 11 in) wide, while a Japanese estimation measures that Haeil-1 is about 5.02–5.74 m (16.5–18.8 ft) long and 0.8–0.9 m (2 ft 7 in – 2 ft 11 in) wide.

Haeil-2

The Haeil-2 (《해일-2》형; lit. 'Tsunami Type 2') has a range of 1,000 km (620 mi) and an average speed of 8.5 km/h (4.6 kn). According to the Korean Central News Agency, Haeil-2 will serve as a promising military advantage of North Korean armed forces, essential for North Korea to counter adversary military actions as well as their threats.

Assuming Haeil-2 has a similar diameter to Haeil-1 according to Japanese estimation, Haeil-2 is estimated to have a length of 8–9 m (26–30 ft).

Haeil-5-23

The Haeil-5-23 (《해일-5-23》; lit. 'Tsunami-5-23') is the most obscured Haeil variant. North Korea has never released images of Haeil-5-23.

By using underwater warhead detonations, Haeil-5-23 may also be able of generate powerful radioactive tsunamis. Although there is no details about its warhead, Haeil-5-23 may reveal hints of a nuclear warhead tentatively called Hwasan-23 (《화산-23》; lit. 'Volcano-23').

The Haeil-5-23 uses a complicated naming scheme, similar to Pulhwasal-3-31. It is used to give an impression that North Korea has developed new weapons. This designation also reveals that at least five variants of Haeil exist as of January 2024.

Other variants

During a military parade held on 27 July 2023, North Korea unveiled a new Haeil variant. The official name of this variant was not known. It is estimated to be smaller than Russia's Poseidon and similar to Haeil-2; however, Haeil-2 has a different rear section and is smaller than this variant. It is 16 m (52 ft) long, 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) wide and apparently uses pump-jet propulsion. No test is known for this variant.

At a military exhibition opened on 4 October 2025, North Korea unveiled what appears to be another new variant of the Haeil series.

History

According to North Korean state media, the development process of Haeil started in 2012. However, Haeil's development might start much earlier, in 2009. On 27 May 2020, the Haeil was first identified in satellite imagery, as a Planet Labs satellite image spotted a cylindrical object (likely Haeil-1 variant) standing at Sinpo Shipyard.

During the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea held in January 2021, Haeil was named. Later, in October 2021, at the "Self-Defence-2021" military exhibition, Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea was informally reported about Haeil. After January 2021 and before March 2023, Haeil underwent more than 50 "shakedown" tests, including 29 "weapon tests" guided by Kim Jong Un.

The first public test of Haeil occurred between 21 and 23 March 2023. Several days later, on 25–27 March 2023, another test of a Haeil variant, named "Haeil-1", took place. Haeil-2 was revealed in April 2023 by a test. In January 2024, another variant of Haeil series, named "Haeil-5-23", made its public debut, also by testing.

Deployment

In December 2022, during the Sixth Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, North Korea decided to deploy Haeil.

In September 2025, Daily NK reported that North Korea had ordered trial deployment of Haeil. A three-stage deployment process of Haeil was also planned.

List of tests

Attempt Date Variant Duration Outcome Additional notes References
1 21–23 March 2023 Haeil 59 hours, 12 minutes Success The UUV dived to a water depth of 80–150 m (260–490 ft). North Korea did not mention distance.
2 25–27 March 2023 Haeil-1 41 hours, 27 minutes Success The UUV traveled 600 km (370 mi).
3 4–7 April 2023 Haeil-2 71 hours, 6 minutes Success The UUV traveled 1,000 km (620 mi) along an oval and figure-of-eight course.
4 Before 19 January 2024 Haeil-5-23 Unknown Success The test was a response from North Korea to trilateral United States, South Korea and Japan military drills.

Strategic implications

North Korea may use the tests of Haeil to demonstrate its nuclear deterrence capabilities. However, many South Korean and Western analysts remain skeptical about its power.

According to Ankit Panda, a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace analyst, Haeil may be vulnerable to anti-submarine warfares and preemptive strikes if it moves away from North Korea's coastal water and enters enemy's ports.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Vũ Anh (19 January 2024). "Triều Tiên thử tàu lặn có khả năng gây 'sóng thần phóng xạ'" [North Korea tests UUV capable of causing a 'radioactive tsunami']. VnExpress (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  2. ↑ Jang, Seulkee (9 August 2023). "N. Korea wants Russian technical assistance to further nuclear program". Daily NK. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 ""Sóng thần" từ Triều Tiên" ["Tsunami" from North Korea]. NBTV (in Vietnamese). Ninh Binh News & Radio, Television Station. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  4. ↑ Lee, Minji (8 September 2023). "(3rd LD) N. Korea unveils new 'tactical nuclear attack submarine'". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  5. ↑ Yang, Uk (29 June 2023). 북한의 최신 핵무기 개발 현황: 핵그림자를 드리우는 북한의 인지전 시도 [North Korea's latest nuclear weapons developments: North Korea's cognitive warfare attempts to cast a nuclear shadow]. Asan Institute for Policy Studies (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Haeil family torpedo drones ("Tsunami")". NK Pro. NK News. 17 August 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Kristensen, Hans M.; Korda, Matt; Johns, Eliana; Mackenzie Knight-Boyle (15 July 2024). "North Korean nuclear weapons, 2024". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "Haeil nuclear torpedo (initial/largest type)". NK Pro. NK News. 17 August 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  9. 1 2 Tawfeeq, Mohammad; Chen, Heather (7 April 2023). "North Korea claims to have tested Haeil-2 underwater nuclear drone". CNN. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  10. 1 2 Kim, Jin-kook (2 April 2023). [한반도 신무기 대백과] 진화하는 북 핵실험...이번엔 바닷 속에서 [(Encyclopedia of new weapons on the Korean Peninsula) North Korea's evolving nuclear tests... This time under the sea]. Radio Free Asia (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  11. 1 2 JSF (8 April 2023). 北朝鮮の核無人水中攻撃艇「ヘイル2」、1000km潜水航行で日本海の全ての沿岸に到達可能 [North Korea's nuclear unmanned underwater attack drone "Haeil-2" can reach all coasts of the Sea of Japan with a 1,000 km submersible voyage]. Yahoo News Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  12. 1 2 Khánh Như (29 July 2023). "Bí ẩn 'vũ khí hạt nhân' dưới nước mới của Triều Tiên" [The mystery of North Korea's new underwater 'nuclear weapon']. Thanh Niên (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  13. ↑ Thành Đạt (8 April 2023). "Triều Tiên thử vũ khí tấn công hạt nhân tạo "sóng thần phóng xạ"" [North Korea tests nuclear attack weapon capable of creating a "radioactive tsunami"]. Bắc Ninh TV (in Vietnamese). Bac Ninh Newspaper and Radio – Television. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 "Haeil-5-23". NK Pro. NK News. 17 August 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  15. ↑ Hoàng Hà (24 January 2024). "Vũ khí 'chưa từng có' cả Nga và Triều Tiên đều manh nha phát triển" ['Unprecedented' weapons are both beginning to be developed by Russia and North Korea]. Báo Pháp Luật (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  16. ↑ Yang, Ji-ho (25 January 2024). 불화살3-31, 해일5-23... 北의 무기 숫자 장난 [Pulhwasal-3-31, Haeil-5-23... North Korea's weapon number prank]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  17. ↑ "Unnamed Haeil variant (pump-jet, July 2023)". NK Pro. NK News. 17 August 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  18. ↑ Kim, Jooheon (5 October 2025). "North Korea unveils first unmanned surface drone ahead of Oct. 10 parade". NK News. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  19. 1 2 3 "Important Weapon Test and Firing Drill Conducted in DPRK". Korean Central News Agency. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  20. 1 2 Van Diepen, Vann H. (6 April 2023). "North Korea's New "Unmanned Underwater Nuclear Attack Craft": Red October or White Elephant". 38 North. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Zwirko, Colin (8 April 2023). "North Korea reveals Haeil-2 undersea 'nuclear attack drone' test for first time". NK News. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  22. 1 2 "Spokesman for Ministry of National Defence of DPRK Issues Press Statement". Korean Central News Agency. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2026 – via KCNA Watch.
  23. ↑ JSF (26 March 2023). 北朝鮮の核無人水中攻撃艇「ヘイル」とロシアの原子力推進超大型核魚雷「ポセイドン」 [North Korea's nuclear unmanned underwater attack drone "Haeil" and Russia's nuclear-powered super-large nuclear torpedo "Poseidon"]. Yahoo News Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  24. ↑ Jeong, Tae Joo (4 September 2025). "North Korea orders trial deployment of nuclear underwater drones in East Sea". Daily NK. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  25. ↑ "Underwater Strategic Weapon System Test Held". Korean Central News Agency. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  26. ↑ "Underwater Strategic Weapon System Tested in DPRK". Korean Central News Agency. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  27. ↑ Mao, Frances (19 January 2024). "N Korea conducts 'underwater nuclear weapons system' test - state media". BBC News. Retrieved 17 December 2025.