North Korea Upgrades Even Conventional Weapons... NIS "Tracking Smuggled Parts"

240mm Improvement Announced... Kim Jong-un Conducts Test Drive of Launch Vehicle
Unusual Direct Oversight of Conventional Weapon Production
Old Weapons Transferred to Russia, Advanced Technology Support Expected

North Korea, which has focused on developing nuclear and missile capabilities, has now begun upgrading its conventional weapons as well. It is believed that the old weapons are being disposed of through Russia, which is at war with Ukraine, while parts for new weapons are being smuggled in from overseas to evade sanctions monitoring.

Korean Central News Agency reported on the 13th that Chairman Kim Jong Un inspected important defense enterprises under the Second Economic Committee on the 11th and 12th. Chairman Kim checked the production site of the Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) equipped with multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) and said, "To mass-produce our style of MLRS vehicles, it is important to continuously raise the level of modernization in the production process." On the same day, the North promoted the automation system in the production process of the launch vehicles and even revealed footage of Chairman Kim personally test-driving a launch vehicle.

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un is personally test-driving a new 240mm multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) mounted on a transporter erector launcher (TEL) aimed at the southern metropolitan area.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 10th, Chairman Kim also inspected the new 240mm MLRS weapon system and observed a test firing of a 'guided rocket projectile.' The 240mm MLRS has a maximum range of about 65 km and is considered a key weapon system aimed at the Seoul metropolitan area. It is a representative long-range artillery system that typically appears when North Korea threatens the South with the phrase "Seoul will be turned into a sea of fire," and it is mounted on the launch vehicles inspected by Chairman Kim. The report at the time stated that "an automated comprehensive fire command system has been introduced" and that "equipment replacement for units of the Korean People's Army will take place from 2024 to 2026."

If North Korea's claims are true, the 240mm MLRS equipped with the newly added 'guidance' function will be deployed to frontline units starting this year. It is known that about 200 units of the 240mm MLRS are deployed in North Korea's frontline units, which means the accuracy of these weapons has improved. It is also noteworthy that Chairman Kim personally oversaw the test firing site of this conventional weapon and the related equipment upgrades, rather than a strategic new weapon.

In this context, South Korean intelligence authorities have detected signs that North Korea supplied old weapons such as 122mm MLRS produced in the 1970s to Russia. The National Intelligence Service is conducting a detailed analysis after identifying indications that North Korean 122mm MLRS were among the weapons used by Russia in its attacks on Ukraine. Photos of shells taken on the Ukrainian battlefield last year showed Korean characters such as 'Bang-122' and 'Paji.' Several experts at the time analyzed these as rocket shells for North Korean 122mm MLRS. South Korean military authorities also estimated that North Korea likely supplied large quantities of 122mm and 152mm shells to Russia. This suggests that North Korea is disposing of old stockpiles to Russia while accelerating upgrades of its conventional weapons.

North Korea announced that it will deploy a new 240mm multiple rocket launcher equipped with guidance functions to the People's Army units starting this year.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, the National Intelligence Service is tracking the trend that North Korea is secretly procuring parts such as semiconductors from overseas companies during the weapon upgrade process. Recently, the Conflict Armament Research (CAR), a UK-based arms monitoring organization, reported that hundreds of parts produced in the US, Europe, and other Western countries were found in the debris of North Korean ballistic missiles used by Russian forces. It was also analyzed that North Korea is receiving weapon parts through intermediaries in China and other places to evade sanctions monitoring on North Korea.

Intelligence authorities are also closely watching the possibility that North Korea's weapon supply to Russia could lead to advanced military technology support from Russia to North Korea. A National Intelligence Service official said, "We are closely tracking the smuggling of missile parts into North Korea," and "we are continuously monitoring all aspects of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including North Korea's missile exports to Russia."