Taepodong - 2 The Taepodong - 2 ( TD - 2 , also spelled as Taep ' o - dong 2 ) ( ) is a designation used to indicate a North Korean two or three - stage ballistic missile design that is the successor to the Taepodong - 1 technology demonstrator . The missile has been tested once , and failed 35 – 40 seconds after launch . In 2012 the U . S . Department of Defense assessed that the Taepodong - 2 had not yet been deployed . Details . Based on the size of the missile , the fuel composition , and the likely fuel capacity , it is estimated that a two stage variant would have a range of around 4 , 000 km ( 2 , 500 statute miles ) and a three stage variant would be capable of reaching as far as 4 , 500 km ( 2 , 800 statute miles ) , giving it potentially the longest range in the North Korean missile arsenal . The burn time of each stage is a little over 100 seconds , thus allowing the missile to burn for 5 or 6 minutes . Speculative variants of the missile could be capable of a range of approximately 9 , 000 km ( 5 , 600 statute miles ) . At maximum range , the Taepodong - 2 is estimated to have a payload capacity of less than 500 kg ( ~ 1 , 100 lbs ) . According to Kim il Son , a former worker in the publications department of one of North Korea ' s top research centres , North Korea began development of the missile in 1987 . Very few details concerning the technical specifications of the rocket are public information ; even the name " Taepodong - 2 " is a designation applied by agencies outside of North Korea to what is presumed to be a successor to the Taepodong - 1 . The TD - 2 first stage likely uses a liquid propellant ( TM - 185 fuel and AK - 27I oxidizer ) driven engine and the second stage likely utilises the Rodong short - range missile . Depending on the range , the estimated payload capacity could be as high as 700 – 1 , 000 kg ( ~ 1 , 550 - 2 , 200 lbs ) at short range , making it potentially suitable for conventional weapons payloads , NBC payloads as well as Earth orbit satellite delivery . At maximum range , the Taepodong - 2 is estimated to have a payload capacity of less than 500 kg ( ~ 1 , 100 lbs ) . North Korea has yet to demonstrate the ability to produce a re - entry vehicle , without which North Korea cannot deliver a weapon from an ICBM . Structure . First stage . Taepodong - 2 ' s first stage consists of four Rodong motors . It is unknown if the first stage has four separate tanks for fuel and four tanks for oxidizer , or if it has two big tanks for fuel and oxidizer like the Unha rocket . Around 2007 North Korea claims to have deployed 12 to 18 of this missile and showed them in military parades . Iran is speculated to have acquired 18 Musudan - 1 missiles from the DPRK in 2005 . Second and third stages . Little is known about the Taepodong - 2 design beyond the first stage . Most likely the second stage is one of the Scud - derived North Korean ballistic missiles ( either Rodong - 1 or Hwasong - 6 ) , and the third stage most likely uses Chinese solid - fuel engines . Launches . The sole test launch of Taepodong - 2 was conducted on July 5 , 2006 . Missile test in 2006 . A Taepodong - 2 missile was test fired on July 5 , 2006 from the Musudan - ri Missile Test Facility . According to preliminary reports , the missile failed in mid - flight 35 – 40 seconds after launch .