North Korea showcased its super-large caliber multiple rocket launcher system in a handover ceremony ahead of the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party. Kim Jong Un, present at the event, boasted of the weapon’s capabilities, claiming it could instantly cripple enemy military infrastructure and command systems.
The regime’s state-run newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Thursday that a ceremony for the delivery of 600mm large-caliber multiple rocket launchers took place in Pyongyang the previous day. The paper stated that 50 of these launchers, produced over two months by workers at a key defense industry facility, were displayed in the square of the April 25 House of Culture, where the party congress is set to convene.
Kim personally operated one of the launcher vehicles and inspected the array of weapons before addressing the gathering. He issued a stark warning, asserting that if deployed, these weapons would swiftly devastate an adversary’s military infrastructure and command systems. Kim further threatened that when these weapons are put into action, no divine intervention would be able to save the target.
The North Korean leader lauded the system as the world’s most formidable offensive weapon, boasting that it perfectly melds the precision and power of tactical ballistic missiles with the rapid-fire capabilities of multiple rocket launchers. He expressed immense pride in this latest addition to the country’s arsenal.
Kim went on to highlight the system’s suitability for special operations and strategic missions, noting its incorporation of artificial intelligence and advanced guidance systems. He claimed that this weapon system has revolutionized the role and concept of artillery in modern warfare.
The Supreme Leader emphasized that the most potent offensive capability serves as the most reliable deterrent, calling it an indisputable law and truth. He vowed to continue demonstrating defense technology achievements that would cause significant anxiety among North Korea’s geopolitical rivals.
Kim announced that the upcoming 9th Party Congress would outline the next phase of North Korea’s self-defense buildup based on these advancements. Analysts expect the regime to unveil an enhanced five-year defense plan at the congress, scheduled for later this month.
This display follows North Korea’s January 27 announcement of test firings of an upgraded large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system conducted under Kim’s supervision.
Defense experts assess that the newly revealed rocket launcher system demonstrates improved GPS jamming resistance and precision strike capabilities.
They estimate the system’s range at nearly 400 kilometers (about 249 miles), potentially bringing key South Korean and U.S. military installations within its reach, including the South Korean military headquarters at Gyeryongdae, U.S. bases in Pyeongtaek and Osan, and Cheongju Air Base, home to South Korea’s F-35A fighters.