Kim Jong-un Supervises 'Super Large Multiple Rocket Launcher' Firing... Demonstrates Weapon Performance Amid South Korea Provocations

Kim Jong-un Oversees Western District Artillery Unit Training
"Must Be Able to Destroy Enemy Capital and Military Power at Any Time"

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un supervised a large-caliber multiple rocket launcher firing drill of the Western District artillery unit on the 18th, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 19th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un directed a firing drill of a super-large multiple rocket launcher with a diameter of 600mm on the 18th and confirmed the combat mobilization readiness, North Korea announced on the 19th. It is interpreted as provoking South Korea through missile launches capable of striking the entire South Korean territory, while also showcasing weapon performance with an eye on exports to Russia.

The North Korean Rodong Sinmun revealed that Chairman Kim guided the artillery unit's firing drill in the western district the previous day, explaining, "The training was conducted with the purpose of confirming the power and combat capability of the weapon system through the arbitrary maneuvering and simultaneous firing of the 600mm multiple rocket launcher units, enhancing combat morale, and inspecting mobilization readiness."

It added, "Comrade Kim Jong Un inspected the firepower positions, understood the automated fire command and control system, checked the combat deployment time and tactical parameters of the launch vehicles, and observed the artillerymen's firepower service operations."

Chairman Kim emphasized, "The newly equipped super-large multiple rocket launcher holds a very important position and role in war preparation," and stated, "As the 600mm super-large multiple rocket launchers perform strategic missions as a core strike means of our armed forces along with other effective and destructive attack means, we must vigorously continue to modernize our artillery forces with them as the core."

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un supervised the firing drill of the super-large multiple rocket launcher at the Western District artillery unit on the 18th, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 19th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In particular, Chairman Kim said, "It is necessary to further solidify the awareness among the enemy that if a military conflict occurs and war breaks out, there is no way to avoid disastrous consequences," and added, "From now on, our military must be even more thorough in fulfilling its mission of blocking and deterring the possibility of war with the destructive attack means it possesses, which are always ready to collapse the enemy's capital and military structure."

On the same day, North Korean media also published photos showing six super-large multiple rocket launcher rounds hitting a target believed to be the uninhabited island 'Alseom' off the coast of Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province. North Korea's super-large multiple rocket launcher is a short-range ballistic missile called KN-25 by South Korean and U.S. military authorities. It is known to have the entire South Korean territory within its strike range and to be capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads.

Professor Park Won-gon of Ewha Womans University explained, "North Korea's short-range ballistic missile launches can be seen as a response to the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises," adding, "This is because the launches are targeted to match the range of areas where joint exercises such as in Pohang take place."

Additionally, it is interpreted that North Korea is also seeking to expand exports to countries like Russia by showcasing the performance of the super-large multiple rocket launcher.

Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said, "North Korea is expected to focus on fulfilling the defense tasks presented at the recent Party Central Committee plenary meeting, including ballistic missile improvements, reconnaissance satellite launches, and naval power enhancement from April after completing conventional weapon verification by March," and explained, "Given that the multiple rocket launcher is a major weapon in North Korea-Russia military cooperation, the possibility of export trials to Russia cannot be ruled out."