North Deploys 250 Launchers of 'North Korean Version of KTSSM' at Frontline

Chairman Kim Jong-un "Missile Launchers Delivered to the Border Frontline Unit"

North Korea has forward-deployed the Hwasong-11 launcher, known as the "North Korean version of KTSSM," to the front lines.

On the 5th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that "the day before, Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, said in a speech at the handover ceremony of the new tactical ballistic missile launcher held in Pyongyang, 'Our strength will continuously evolve, and our dominance will forever deny limits.'"

He stated, "We will equip a more complete and enhanced level of nuclear force posture capable of suppressing all nuclear threats as soon as possible and defending ourselves from them."

Chairman Kim also emphasized that 250 missile launchers have been delivered to the frontline units at the first line of the border, securing the initiative with overwhelming offensive and striking superiority, diversifying the firepower mission space, and "improving effectiveness in the practical aspects of special physical force tactical nuclear weapons." This is interpreted as an effort to strengthen internal unity by promoting achievements in the defense sector and to stabilize public sentiment shaken by recent floods in the Yalu River basin. Photos released by the news agency show that many party, government, and military officials attended the evening commemorative ceremony.

According to the photos released by the news agency, the delivered weapon system appears to be the Hwasong-11-la launcher, a close-range ballistic missile (CRBM). This launcher is expected to be deployed in combat near the Military Demarcation Line with South Korea.

The Hwasong-11 variants Ga, Na, Da, and Ra are estimated to carry payloads ranging from 500 kg to 2.5 tons. North Korea's short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) Hwasong-11 Ga is known as the "North Korean version of Iskander" KN-23, and Hwasong-11 Na is called the "North Korean version of ATACMS" KN-24. In addition, North Korea is developing various derivative models of the Hwasong-11, including the Hwasong-11 Da with an increased warhead weight of 2.5 tons and the close-range Hwasong-11 Ra, which is similar to the Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile (KTSSM) and is also referred to as the "North Korean version of KTSSM."

Kim Jong Un's daughter, Ju-ae, also appeared in North Korean media for the first time since attending the completion ceremony of Pyongyang's Jeonwi Street on May 14.