It was established in 1964 as the Agency for Defense Development under the Ministry of National Security. In 1970 it changed to Second Academy of Natural Sciences and moved to the Second Economic Committee. In 2010 it was slapped with U.S. sanctions[7] In the 2000s Moved to the Department of Military Industry of the Workers' Party of Korea. In 2014 it was renamed to the Agency for Defense Development of Cruise Missiles. Since 2021 it is referred to as the Academy of National Defense Science.[8]
Naval warfare
The Academy is also responsible for developing naval vessels and weapons, and has a Maritime Research Institute, headquartered at the Sinpo South Shipyard.[9][10]
The Academy also operates the Namp’o Ship Design Institute.[11]
^"Head of N.K. missile development agency promoted after ICBM test". Yonhap News Agency. July 11, 2017. Jang Chang-ha, president of the Academy of National Defense Science, was seen sitting next to leader Kim Jong-un at a performance with his military rank being raised by one notch from lieutenant general, according to Yonhap News Agency's analysis on photos carried by state media.
^"The United States Sanctions North Korean Government Officials and Organizations Tied to its Missile and Nuclear Programs". 2016. Archived from the original on July 23, 2017. In addition to OFAC's designations, the State Department designated three entities and two individuals pursuant to E.O. 13382. The State Department also updated an alias of an entity that was previously designated pursuant to the same E.O. These designations include NADA; the Ministry of Atomic Energy Industry; the Academy of National Defense Science; Choe Chun Sik, the Director of the Second Academy of Natural Sciences, which is designated pursuant to E.O. 13382; and Kang Mun Kil, a representative of Namhung Trading Corporation, which is designated pursuant to E.O. 13382.
^Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (March 2016). "Review of the End User List". Archived from the original on July 23, 2017. Academy of National Defense Science (国防科学院) [...] This review was conducted with reference to the fact that UN Security Council Resolution 2270 additionally designated entities and individuals involved in programs related to North Korea's nuclear, other WMDs, and ballistic missile development which are to be subject to asset-freezing measures.
^Bermudez, Joseph S. (October 28, 2014). "North Korea: Test Stand for Vertical Launch of Sea-Based Ballistic Missiles Spotted". 38 North. Retrieved July 23, 2017. The Academy of National Defense Science's Maritime Research Institute, located in Sinpo, is responsible for research and development of maritime technology, naval vessels and submarines and naval related missiles.
^Bermudez, Joseph S. (May 15, 2014). "New North Korean Helicopter Frigates Spotted". 38 North. Design of the vessel was likely the responsibility of the Academy of National Defense Science's Namp'o Ship Design Institute in cooperation with the Maritime Research Institute (a.k.a., Ship Research Institute), while the Second Economic Committee's 6th Machine Industry Bureau oversaw construction.