North Korea to Hold Armed Equipment Exhibition in Pyongyang on 21st
Showcases Weapon Systems Supported by Russia
North Korea held a weapons exhibition this year as well, showcasing various equipment and provocative capabilities, hosting a 'weapons showcase' aimed at Russia.
On the 22nd, North Korea's Korean Central News Agency reported that the armed equipment exhibition "Defense Development-2024" opened on the 21st in Pyongyang. North Korea had invited a Russian military delegation in July last year to hold the "Armed Equipment Exhibition-2023," and this is the subsequent event. North Korea also held an event called the "Defense Development Exhibition" in 2021.
At this event, North Korea gathered and displayed all kinds of military equipment ranging from rifles and tanks to space launch vehicles for reconnaissance satellites. The launch vehicle "Chollima-1," which carried the reconnaissance satellite "Malligyong-1" into orbit last November, was displayed at the exhibition. The appearance of Chollima-1 at the armed equipment exhibition suggests that if a warhead rather than a satellite is mounted on it, it could be immediately used as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), according to analysis. Newly introduced solid-fuel ICBMs such as the Hwasong-19, first launched on the 31st of last month, and the Hwasong-18, which appeared in April last year, were also exhibited.
Additionally, solid-fuel missiles such as the medium- to long-range hypersonic missile Hwasong-16 variant and North Korea's main short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) KN-23 (North Korean version of the Iskander) were showcased. Liquid-fuel missiles have become increasingly rare to find.
Various types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) also attracted attention. The unmanned attack drone "Satbyeol-9," known as the "North Korean version of the Reaper," which was first revealed at last year's armed equipment exhibition, along with recently introduced small suicide drones, were displayed. When North Korea reported on suicide drones on the 15th, a new type of drone attacking a BMW passenger car was shown in a blurred image, but this time a clear photo was revealed. Including this model, at least six types of small UAVs were identified in North Korean news photos.
Weapons systems believed to have been supplied by North Korea to Russia, which invaded Ukraine, were also spotted. These included 240mm guided multiple rocket launchers and armored vehicles equipped with "Bulsae" anti-tank missiles, which were present at the exhibition. On the 20th, the National Intelligence Service reported to the National Assembly that "it has been confirmed that North Korea has additionally exported long-range artillery such as 240mm multiple rocket launchers following shells and missiles."
Most of the exhibited items appear to be previously disclosed weapons systems. Analysts suggest that by gathering various weapons in one place, North Korea is demonstrating its defense capabilities both domestically and internationally, while also signaling that these weapons could be supplied to Russia at any time. Furthermore, with the second Trump administration about to begin, North Korea is reiterating its determination to strengthen defense capabilities and drawing a line against North Korea-US talks. In his opening speech at the exhibition, Chairman Kim Jong Un stated, "We have gone as far as possible to negotiate with the United States," and through this, confirmed the hostile policy of the United States toward North Korea.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
