South Korean military stated that it is necessary to track and verify the performance and operational status of North Korea’s claim that they have deployed 250 new tactical ballistic missile launchers to the front line.
Lee Sung Jun, the spokesperson for South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed related questions during a regular briefing on August 5, saying, “U.S. and South Korean intelligence authorities are continuously tracking and monitoring the development trends of North Korea’s weapons.”
Previously, North Korea’s state-run media, Rodong Sinmun, reported that a “ceremony for the transfer of the new tactical ballistic missile weapon system took place on August 4,” stating that “the ceremony for the delivery of 250 new tactical ballistic missile launchers produced by significant military supply enterprises was held in the capital, Pyongyang.”
During the event, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stated that the armed equipment has now been delivered to their military and will be responsible for significant military activities along the borders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He added that this is merely the first phase of their planned missile force construction for frontline units.
The mobile launchers (TEL) identified in the photos released by North Korea resemble those for the short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) Hwasong-11Ra, which North Korea began test-launching in April 2022. The missile is estimated to have a range of about 110 km.
The launchers are designed with a four-tube configuration. If all 250 launchers operate simultaneously, they could theoretically launch 1,000 missiles. However, it has been pointed out that North Korea may find it challenging to secure many missiles.
Lee explained that they believe the weapons disclosed by North Korea are intended for various uses, including offensive or threatening purposes against the South. He added that North Korea deploys and utilizes missiles based on their range, and placing them near the border suggests that they are not particularly long-range.
He also mentioned that they had detected movements gathering for the event in advance the previous day. He noted that North Korea has previously made public its production of Transporter Erector Launchers (TELs) multiple times, and such trends have been verified.