| This image has text which I believe to be incorrect. The two images show differences between conventional and nuclear warheads. The difference between 2 and 3 stage is illustrated in the top image, 2-stage where the warhead is seen near the middle (the front section would not exist, a shorter missle air frame) vs with the warhead at the right. The number of stages represents the various rocket-boosters propelling the war-head where the longer missile, the 3-stage, has greater range capability; I could be mistaken.. the larger "warhead" on the bottom drawing may actually be a small, stubby-shaped rocket and not nuclear warhead at all. In which case the cone-shaped warhead is a generic representation of either a conventional or nuclear warhead:
http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/world/0302/taepo.dong.2/taepo.dong.2.gif
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According to a North Korean defector, work on the Taepo Dong-2 began in 1987, with then-leader Kim Jong Il saying to researchers, "If we can develop this we have nothing to fear. Even the American bastards won't be able to bother us."
Estimates of the missile's range vary, and it has never been test-fired. In a December 2001 report, the CIA estimated a 10,000 km (6,200 mile) range for the two-stage version, enough to hit Alaska or Hawaii, and 15,000 km (9,300 miles), enough to hit any point in North America, for a three-stage version.
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