As Russia’s Armored Fleet Dwindles, North Korean Leader Presents Upgraded Tanks

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has inspected a new version of the Cheonma-2 tank during a visit to an armored vehicle factory, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

During the visit, he inspected in detail a new version of the Cheonma-2 tank, which features a redesigned turret and an active protection system.

The upgraded vehicle is based on the standard seven-road-wheel hull of the Cheonma-2 (M2020), presented during the parade in Pyongyang in 2020.

Compared to the 2024 model, the updated turret shows significant changes, including structural similarities to the South Korean K2 Black Panther’s turret.

While it’s unclear whether the new version is equipped with an automatic loader — the 2024 model had a four-person crew — the turret includes antenna arrays and four launchers for active protection mortars. That is also a radically different approach to implementing the defense system than in the 2024 version.

The system design conceptually resembles Israel’s Iron Fist, with twin mortars mounted on rotatable launchers for directional defense against incoming threats.

The tank presented to Kim Jong-un was equipped with a remotely controlled machine gun and mounting brackets for two anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) launch containers.

The tank also received a panoramic sight at the rear of the turret, and a new driver’s camera — likely equipped with thermal imaging. Previous versions lacked this feature.

KCNA did not detail the tank’s main gun, but images suggest a long-barrel design — likely exceeding 55 calibers if the gun is indeed 125mm — visible in the background.

This could indicate a new North Korean-designed main gun, potentially developed to counter U.S. M1 Abrams or South Korean K2 tanks.

As for the tank’s hull itself, it has not undergone any profound changes. The most noticeable was the appearance of new dynamic protection units installed on the side projection in two rows instead of one, as was the case with the 2024 model tank.

Militarnyi previously reported that North Korea showcased the Cheonma-2 (Western designation: M-2024) during training competitions involving the Korean People’s Army Joint Forces.