[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea conducted a test launch of a new tactical guided weapon under the observation of Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party. At the event, Kim ordered to "further strengthen nuclear combat forces."
Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the 17th that "the test launch was successfully carried out."
The agency claimed, "This new tactical guided weapon system, developed under the special attention of the Party Central Committee, significantly enhances the firepower strike capability of frontline long-range artillery units and holds great significance in improving the effectiveness of tactical nuclear operations and diversifying firepower missions of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."
KCNA also reported that General Secretary Kim "revealed the Party Central Committee's vision for prospective national defense strengthening and gave resolute guidance to further enhance the country's defense capabilities and nuclear combat forces."
Furthermore, Kim highly praised "the achievements continuously made by the defense science research sector in achieving the core war deterrence goals set by our Party's 8th Congress," and "warmly congratulated on behalf of the Party Central Committee," KCNA stated.
This 'goal' refers to the national defense development objectives presented by the North Korean Workers' Party at the 8th Party Congress in January last year, including ▲ promoting miniaturization and tactical weaponization of nuclear weapons ▲ production of super-large nuclear warheads ▲ improving strike accuracy within a 15,000 km range ▲ development and introduction of hypersonic glide vehicle warheads ▲ development of underwater and ground solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles ▲ possession of nuclear submarines and underwater-launched nuclear strategic weapons ▲ operation of military reconnaissance satellites ▲ development of 500 km unmanned reconnaissance drones, among others.
Present at the test launch observation site were Kim Jong-sik, Deputy Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, senior officials of the Ministry of National Defense, and commanders of the Korean People's Army's large combined units.
The guided weapon tested this time was launched from a launch tube mounted on a mobile launcher vehicle and is presumed to be a partially modified version of the North Korean version of ATACMS (KN-24).
This missile launch, carried out a day before the South Korea-U.S. Combined Command Post Training (CCPT), marks the 13th show of force this year following the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) claimed to be the 'Hwasong-17' on the 24th of last month.
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