On Thursday, marking the 76th anniversary of the Korean War, Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party, observed test launches of missiles and multiple rocket launchers targeting South Korea. He issued a threat, stating that it will further enhance the destructive attack posture, ensuring the enemies remain in constant anxiety and fear.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Friday that Kim had attended crucial weapon tests conducted by defense research institutions. These tests were part of the Five-Year Plan for Modernizing Artillery and Missile Forces to Achieve National Defense Development Goals. Kim was accompanied by key military officials, including Jo Chun-ryong, Kim Jong-sik, Park Jong-chul, Jang Chang-ha, Kim Yong-hwan, Kim Kang-il, Kim Myung-sun, Yu Chang-seon, and commanders of the Korean People’s Army’s Combined Forces.
According to the newspaper, North Korea evaluated the accuracy of an improved 240mm 24-tube rocket launcher, a tactical ballistic missile equipped with a special mission warhead, and extended-range shells (65 km, about 40 miles) for 155mm self-propelled howitzers.
North Korea claimed that the improved 240mm rocket launcher is a corps-level firepower system with automated operations and an indigenous precision guidance system, boasting an increased range of 90 km (about 56 miles). They described the special mission warhead on the tactical ballistic missile as designed to strike key targets such as airports, ports, and power facilities, without disclosing specific operational details.
Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction with the test results, stating that he’s pleased to demonstrate the new level of defense development introduced at the 2nd Plenary Meeting of the 9th Central Committee.
He further assessed that these tests confirm the technical advancements in realizing the Party’s military construction policy. This policy focuses on changes in firepower posture along the southern border and adheres to the principles of automation, long-range capabilities, and ultra-precision.
Kim emphasized that the current global landscape proves that only through overwhelming military strength can it protects its national sovereignty and ensure the survival. This underscores why bolstering the defense capabilities is an indispensable national strategy.
Kim asserted that the Party’s self-defense policy isn’t just about enhancing defensive capabilities. It’s about developing lethal and destructive offensive postures to make us unbeatable. Keeping the enemies in perpetual anxiety and fear is a crucial aspect of the deterrence strategy.
He added that it will soon make it clear to our enemies that all of the military’s long-range strike systems have been upgraded. Analysts interpret Kim’s mention of overhauling long-range strike systems as a signal that North Korea may soon showcase its ability to strike targets across the Korean Peninsula. This could involve tests of strategic weapons like hypersonic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).