DPRK conducts test-firing of MLRS amid US-South Korea joint drills
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The weapon testing took place during the US and South Korea's 11-day joint military drills which are set to finish Thursday.
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DPRK leader Kim Jong-un attends the test of an upgraded 240 mm rocket launcher system, on August 28, 2024. (AFP)
DPRK leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the test-firing of an upgraded 240mm multiple rocket launcher system (MRLS) equipped with a new "guiding system", the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Wednesday, amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
“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, adding that Kim “set forth an important policy to be pursued in producing new artillery pieces and equipping army units with them.”
Amid rising tensions with South Korea, especially during its frequent military collaboration drills with the US which have been described as invasion drills by Pyongyang, the DPRK has focused on weapon development within the last few months.
On Monday, Pyongyang revealed its latest suicide drone designed to intentionally crash into enemy targets, acting as a guided missile.
Back in February, the DPRK announced its development of a new control system for a multiple rocket launcher that would result in "qualitative change" in its defense capabilities, while stating in May that the updated weapon would be "deployed to units of the Korean People's Army as replacement equipment from 2024 to 2026.”
US, South Korea launch their largest war games in years
The DPRK's MLRS testing was conducted during the US and South Korea's largest joint military exercises in years, which kicked off on August 19.
The drills, named the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, will continue until August 29, as the training will take place with various aircraft, warships, and artillery in addition to thousands of troops dealing with hypothetical "defensive" and "counterattack" scenarios.
In the first stage of the drills, a hypothetical DPRK attack will be repelled, in addition to initiating a civil defense response to a number of stimulated threats, such as “fire at a semiconductor factory,” “airport terrorism,” or “discovery of improvised explosive devices at nuclear power plants,” according to the Yonhap news agency.
The second stage of the drills will see the two allied sides sharpen "counterattack" capabilities by conducting live fire drills during over 40 different combined field training programs.
Although the US and South Korea brand their exercises as "defensive," the DPRK has repeatedly stressed that they're rehearsals for a potential invasion.
Kim has reiterated that if Washington continued to militarize the region, war could "break out at any time."
