North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a factory producing new multiple rocket launchers that state media say can 'annihilate the enemy' in concentrated strikes against South Korea. The visit followed reported test-firings of long-range cruise missiles and underscores Pyongyang's push to modernise missile forces ahead of a major party congress in 2026. Analysts warn the systems could boost North Korea's strategic strike capacity and may be adaptable to carry small nuclear warheads.
Kim Jong Un Showcases New Multiple Rocket Launchers Said To Threaten South Korea Ahead Of 2026 Party Congress
North Korea is still technically at war with the South and its vast artillery arsenal has long been believed by analysts to be central to its strategy should conflict break out on the peninsula (STR)(STR/KCNA VIA KNS/AFP)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toured a factory producing new multiple rocket launcher systems that state media say are capable of striking South Korea, praising the weapons' ability to 'annihilate the enemy' in concentrated attacks, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Factory Visit and Weapons Claim
Kim's visit, shown in state media photographs of him beside large launcher vehicles inside a vast production hall, came a day after Pyongyang reported test-firing two long-range cruise missiles in a demonstration of what it called 'combat readiness' against external threats. KCNA quoted Kim as calling the new launcher system the military's 'main strike means' and a 'super-powerful weapon system' with high accuracy and devastating power.
Expert Reactions and Strategic Concerns
Analysts and defence experts say the announced systems could enhance North Korea's precision-strike capability and increase the threat perceived by Seoul and Washington. Hong Sung-pyo, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs, told AFP that North Korea may now be better positioned to carry out strategic missions and that the South would view the development as an increasing military threat.
KCNA also reported Kim saying the systems could be used in 'strategic attack'—language that analysts often interpret as implying potential nuclear roles.
Background And Wider Context
A 2020 RAND Corporation assessment estimated that North Korean artillery could cause up to 10,000 casualties within an hour if concentrated on major population centres such as Seoul. Pyongyang has significantly stepped up missile testing in recent years to improve precision, expand its strike options, challenge the United States and South Korea, and—according to some observers—prepare systems for possible export.
North Korea is scheduled to hold a landmark congress of its ruling Workers' Party in early 2026, its first in five years. In advance of that meeting, Kim has ordered expansion and modernisation of missile production facilities and construction of additional factories to meet rising demand.
Nuclear Implications
Some experts warned the new launchers might be adapted to carry small nuclear warheads or other non-conventional payloads. Lim Eul-chul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University, told AFP that systems to mount various types of small nuclear warheads on multiple rocket launchers are already in place, a claim that highlights concerns about the potential coupling of conventional and nuclear capabilities.
While state media framed the visit as a demonstration of domestic industrial strength and deterrence, outside analysts emphasize continued risks for regional stability and the importance of monitoring future tests and deployments.
Sources: KCNA, AFP, RAND Corporation assessment (2020).
