Haeil
North Korean nuclear-capable unmanned underwater vehicle series.
The Haeil is a family of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) built by North Korea. First shown to the public in 2023, the nuclear-capable system includes at least five different versions, three of which have been named by North Korean state media: Haeil-1, Haeil-2, and Haeil-5-23. North Korea claims the Haeil can sneak into enemy waters and detonate a nuclear warhead underwater, producing a radioactive tsunami meant to destroy warships and coastal targets.
Development may have started as early as 2009, though North Korean state media says it officially began in 2012. The first public test took place in March 2023, but more than 50 tests had already occurred between 2021 and 2023 before that debut. According to Korean Central Television, the Haeil is described as 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."
The Haeil can be launched from the coast, towed by surface ships, or fired from the Hero Kim Kun Ok submarine. It is capable of carrying the Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warhead.
The initial variant has no number in its name. Though it resembles Russia's Status-6, it uses conventional propulsion and moves at under 8 knots. According to NK News, this is one of the largest known Haeil variants, measuring over 10 meters long and 1.5 meters in diameter.
The Haeil-1 is said to carry a nuclear warhead and create a "radioactive tsunami." Its size is uncertain: Radio Free Asia estimates it at 14–16 meters long and 1–1.2 meters wide, while a Japanese estimate puts it at 5.02–5.74 meters long and 0.8–0.9 meters wide.
The Haeil-2 has a range of 1,000 kilometers and an average speed of 8.5 km/h. The Korean Central News Agency says it will serve as a promising military advantage, essential for countering adversary actions and threats. Assuming a similar diameter to the Japanese estimate for Haeil-1, Haeil-2 is thought to be 8–9 meters long.
The Haeil-5-23 is the most obscure variant, with no images ever released by North Korea. It may also generate powerful radioactive tsunamis through underwater warhead detonations. While details about its warhead are unknown, it might hint at a nuclear warhead tentatively called Hwasan-23.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- North Korea
- Is Missile
- Yes
- Service
- 2023–present
- Filling
- Hwasan-31
- Length
- Varies depending on variants
- Design Date
- Development started from 2009 or 2012
- Launch Platform
- Coast-based launcher, surface ship, submarine
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Development of the Haeil likely started from at least 2009, but North Korea officially began it in 2012 according to state media claims. Its first public test occurred in March 2023; however, before its public debut, more than 50 Haeil tests occurred between 2021 and 2023. The Haeil was first identified in satellite imagery on 27 May 2020, when a Planet Labs satellite image spotted a cylindrical object at Sinpo Shipyard. During the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in January 2021, Haeil was named. After January 2021 and before March 2023, Haeil underwent more than 50 shakedown tests, including 29 weapon tests guided by Kim Jong Un.
The Haeil can be deployed from coast, towed by surface ships, or launched from the Hero Kim Kun Ok submarine. It is capable of carrying the Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warhead. The initial variant has no number in its designation, uses conventional propulsion, and has a length of over 10 m and a diameter of 1.5 m. Haeil-1 is claimed to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and generating radioactive tsunami; size estimates vary widely. Haeil-2 has a range of 1000 km and an average speed of 8.5 km/h. Haeil-5-23 is the most obscured variant, with no images released by North Korea. During a military parade on 27 July 2023, a new variant was unveiled, estimated at 16 m long and 1.5 m wide, apparently using pump-jet propulsion. At a military exhibition opened on 4 October 2025, another new variant was unveiled.
Reader's Guide
The Haeil series represents a significant element of North Korea's nuclear deterrence strategy, described by Korean Central Television as an important, super-powerful absolute weapon of the Republic’s nuclear combat forces. North Korea may use tests of the Haeil to demonstrate its nuclear deterrence capabilities. However, many South Korean and Western analysts remain skeptical about its power. According to analyst Ankit Panda, the Haeil may be vulnerable to anti-submarine warfare and preemptive strikes if it moves away from North Korea's coastal water and enters enemy's ports. In December 2022, North Korea decided to deploy the Haeil. In September 2025, Daily NK reported that North Korea had ordered trial deployment of the Haeil, with a three-stage deployment process planned. The Haeil-5-23 uses a complicated naming scheme similar to Pulhwasal-3-31, designed to give an impression that North Korea has developed new weapons. The designation also reveals that at least five variants of Haeil exist as of January 2024.
Did You Know?
- The Haeil series has at least five variants, with three named by North Korean state media: Haeil-1, Haeil-2 and Haeil-5-23.
- More than 50 Haeil tests occurred between 2021 and 2023 before its first public test in March 2023.
- The Haeil-5-23 variant has never had any images released by North Korea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Haeil?
The Haeil is a family of nuclear-capable unmanned underwater vehicles developed by North Korea. Its stated purpose is to slip into hostile waters and set off a nuclear warhead beneath the surface, generating a radioactive tsunami to damage warships and coastal infrastructure.
When was the Haeil first revealed to the public?
North Korea displayed the Haeil to the outside world in 2023. State media claims formal development kicked off in 2012, although some analysts believe groundwork may have begun as far back as 2009.
How many Haeil variants are known?
At least five distinct versions of the Haeil exist. Only three have received official designations from North Korean state media: Haeil-1, Haeil-2, and Haeil-5-23.
What are the Haeil's speed and range figures?
The earliest variant is reported to cruise at under 8 knots. The Haeil-2, by contrast, is said to sustain an average speed of 8.5 km/h and cover a range of roughly 1,000 km.
Why is the Haeil considered strategically significant?
It gives North Korea a covert, nuclear-capable underwater delivery platform that could bypass conventional naval defenses and strike at warships or coastal targets with a radioactive-tsunami effect. That combination of stealth, range, and nuclear payload makes it a notable addition to the country's asymmetric deterrence toolkit.
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