North Korea Flaunts Copies of UK’s Storm Shadow and Brimstone Missiles

North Korea has showcased what appear to be indigenous analogs of European long-range cruise and precision-guided missiles during a military event marking the 80th anniversary of its air force.

The presentation took place on November 28 at the Kalma Airbase, where leader Kim Jong Un inspected modified Su-25 aircraft reportedly outfitted with the new missile systems.

According to Militarnyi, citing photos published by North Korea’s state-run KCNA, the featured Su-25 jets carried what appear to be two types of guided munitions.

One set resembles the Franco-British Storm Shadow cruise missile, with certain visual characteristics similar to Germany’s Taurus KEPD 350, such as a prominent infrared seeker mounted in the nose section.

Storm Shadow is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile developed by the UK and France, capable of striking high-value targets at distances over 250 kilometers while remaining below radar coverage.

Another visible armament included what looked like small, air-to-ground missiles closely modeled after the UK’s Brimstone. These were mounted on a triple rail launcher configuration comparable to those used on Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters.

Brimstone is a precision-guided missile primarily used against armored and moving targets. It employs dual-mode guidance—radar and laser—and is known for its accuracy and minimal collateral damage.

Despite the visual similarities, KCNA did not provide any technical data, official designations, or confirmation that the weapons displayed were operational. No footage of test launches or flight demonstrations was released.

The newly showcased missiles were displayed on aircraft tail-numbered “99” and “57,” both variants of the Soviet-era Su-25 ground attack platform. North Korea is believed to operate approximately 35 MiG-29 fighters, which could potentially serve as delivery platforms should these new munitions become operational.

While the authenticity of the displayed weapons remains unverified, defense analysts caution that the event may have been staged primarily for internal messaging or external deterrence. The use of non-functional mock-ups in North Korean military parades and demonstrations has been previously documented.

Earlier in October, North Korea unveiled a HIMARS-style multiple rocket launcher during a military parade in Pyongyang, featuring a dual-pod configuration with 18 launch tubes—twice that of the US M142 HIMARS. The system incorporates a self-loading mechanism and armored cab, indicating a shift toward modular, mobile artillery systems.

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