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North Korea Unveils New Chonma-2 Tank Variant Amid Deepening Military Ties With Russia
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a tank production facility and announced what he described as “significant progress” in the development of domestically produced armored vehicles, according to state media reports on May 4.
Kim’s visit to the undisclosed factory was reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The tour included a detailed review of the latest version of the Chonma-2 main battle tank, labeled M2024, which reportedly features a redesigned turret, a new active protection system, and additional electronic upgrades.
According to KCNA, Kim emphasized the importance of modernizing North Korea’s armored forces and called for the rapid establishment of large-scale production facilities to replace outdated Soviet-era equipment with modern tanks and self-propelled artillery. The new tank model is part of what Kim referred to as a “second revolution” in armored warfare.
The updated Chonma-2 tank retains the seven-roadwheel chassis of the previous model first displayed in 2020 but introduces notable design changes.
These include a newly constructed turret resembling that of South Korea’s K2 Black Panther, as well as an integrated active protection system with four launch tubes and antenna arrays, conceptually similar to the Israeli Iron Fist system.
The tank also features a remotely controlled machine gun, mounts for anti-tank guided missiles, a panoramic sight, and what appears to be a thermal camera for the driver — absent in earlier variants.
Images released by KCNA suggest the tank is equipped with a new 125mm gun with an extended barrel, potentially exceeding 55 calibers in length. The gun may be a recent domestic development aimed at improving anti-armor performance, particularly against Western tanks such as the US M1 Abrams and South Korea’s K2.
While the hull design remains largely unchanged, the latest version includes upgraded explosive reactive armor arranged in two rows along the sides, compared to a single row on previous iterations.
Earlier in April, North Korea unveiled its first next-generation missile destroyer, the Choe Hyon, during a launch ceremony attended by Kim Jong Un in Nampo. The 5,000-ton warship, equipped with 74 missile launch cells and radar systems resembling Russian designs, is expected to enter service in 2026.
