PYONGYANG, North Korea: North Korean state media released images on Friday showing leader Kim Jong Un overseeing tests of a multiple rocket launcher system, a day after South Korea accused Pyongyang of launching short-range ballistic missiles.
The photos depicted Kim, in a brown leather jacket, smiling with uniformed generals as he supervised the launch of what appeared to be 18 projectiles.
The test involved “super-large multiple rocket sub-units,” according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Analysts suggest North Korea could be testing and ramping up production of artillery and cruise missiles potentially for Russia’s use in Ukraine, as the Pentagon reported this week.
Images showed the 600mm multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), which North Korea claims can be fitted with nuclear warheads. The exercises aimed to demonstrate the consequences rivals would face if they provoked North Korea, emphasizing the North’s readiness for preemptive attacks.
KCNA stated that the rockets accurately hit a target 365 km (226 miles) away. South Korea’s military detected the launch of around 10 short-range ballistic missiles, calling the event a “provocation” and estimating the range at about 350 kilometers (217 miles). US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller condemned the missile launches as reckless violations of UN sanctions.
This missile test followed North Korea’s failed attempt to launch a second spy satellite, which exploded mid-air. This attempt came shortly after a rare trilateral summit between Seoul, Beijing, and Tokyo, urging Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Following the summit, North Korea sent hundreds of trash-filled balloons across the border, retaliating against anti-Kim propaganda balloons from the South.
Analysts note that North Korea’s rocket launcher systems could hit Seoul, located about 30 miles from the Demilitarized Zone. Pyongyang’s recent actions, including the balloon incident, aim to divert attention from the satellite launch failure and assert military dominance on the Korean Peninsula.
KCNA also accused the US of deploying reconnaissance aircraft to the Korean Peninsula, warning that the US and its allies would face unforeseen disasters for their espionage activities. Meanwhile, a Pentagon report confirmed Russia’s use of North Korean ballistic missiles in Ukraine, highlighting North Korea’s ongoing military developments.
