North Korea test-fires multiple rocket launcher with new guidance system

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-firing of a 240mm multiple rocket launcher with a new guidance system, a weapon capable of striking the South Korean capital with what the North’s state media said was new destructive power.

Separately, a South Korean security agency estimates that the North has shipped more than 13,000 containers of weapons to Russia since mid-2022, which could mean 6 million North Korean artillery shells for Russian forces in Ukraine, a South Korean politician said.

Kim attended Tuesday’s test of the multiple rocket launch system, or MRLS, that is produced at defense industrial enterprises under the Second Economic Commission, the Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, reported. 

“The MRLS, technically updated in its maneuverability and concentrated firing capability, was proved to be advantageous in all indices, including newly applied guiding system, controllability and destructive power,” KCNA said.

The weapon could put the South Korean capital Seoul and surrounding areas in range.

Kim “set forth an important policy to be pursued in producing new artillery pieces and equipping army units with them,” the news agency added, without elaborating.

In February, the North said it had newly developed “controllable” 240mm rocket launcher ammunition with improvements in range and precision. 

North Korea said in May, it would deploy the weapon system to army units over the next two years.

The test-firing came after reports that North Korea has sent more than 13,000 shipping containers suspected of carrying arms to Russia since mid-2022.

The North delivered the shipments that could carry more than 6 million 152-millimeter artillery shells through its eastern port of Najin over the period, according to a South Korea Defense Intelligence Agency report submitted to a lawmaker.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, the South Korean military has been tracking North Korean transfers of arms to Russia. The most recent figure represents a twofold increase from February’s estimate.

The South’s military suspected North Korea could have supplied Russia with 122-mm artillery rounds, mobile anti-air missiles and anti-tank missiles, among other weapons.

In return, Russia is suspected of providing technological assistance to North Korea’s missile and spy satellite programs, the South Korean agency said, citing Kim’s visit to a Russian space port in September where he held a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“To prepare for a prolonged war in Ukraine, Russia has moved to formalize North Korea as a supply base for weapons and ammunition,” the agency said.

This month, Kim hailed deepening relations with Russia in a message to Putin, telling the Russian leader victory was assured in his “sacred war.”

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“I express the firm belief that the strong and brave Russian people will firmly defend the sovereign right and security interests of the state and surely win victory in the sacred war for regional peace and international justice under your energetic leadership,” Kim told Putin in the message, though he did not mention Ukraine.  

Russia has been seeking closer relations with North Korea since Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. 

The United States says North Korea has supplied Russia with large amounts of weapons for the war, in particular artillery rounds and ballistic missiles, although both Russia and North Korea deny that.

Edited by Mike Firn.