SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea held a public ceremony in which leader Kim Jong Un unveiled the deployment of 50 new launcher vehicles intended for large, short-range, nuclear-capable rockets — a show of force ahead of a major Workers’ Party congress.
State media released photos showing rows of launcher trucks parked near the April 25 House of Culture, the venue for past party congresses in 2016 and 2021. The Korean Central News Agency said the vehicles support the country’s 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher systems.
Experts And Capabilities
Defense analysts say North Korea’s large artillery rockets blur the distinction between traditional artillery and short-range ballistic missiles because they produce their own thrust and can be guided in flight. Such systems form part of Kim’s growing arsenal of nuclear-capable short-range weapons designed to complicate and overwhelm South Korean missile defenses.
What Kim Said
In his address, Kim hailed the new launchers as "wonderful," saying they are equipped with artificial intelligence and advanced guidance technologies tailored for what he described as a "strategic mission," language that suggests a potential nuclear role. He said the upcoming party congress would codify plans to broaden the capabilities of his nuclear-armed forces, which already include systems aimed at U.S. allies in Asia and missiles with possible long-range reach.
Border Tensions And Diplomatic Context
In a separate statement, Kim Yo Jong — a top North Korean foreign policy official and Kim’s sister — said she "highly assesses" an apology from South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young over alleged civilian drone incursions, but warned that Pyongyang would respond with force if such flights recur. "The border with an enemy state should naturally be firm," she said.
“The border with an enemy state should naturally be firm.”
Seoul has denied conducting the flights at the times cited by Pyongyang. South Korea said it is considering reinstating a suspended 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at reducing border tensions — a pact that included a no-fly zone — and is investigating three civilians suspected of launching drones from border areas.
Relations between the Koreas have been strained since 2019, when diplomatic momentum from Kim’s talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump stalled amid sanctions. Tensions have risen further after Kim abandoned the North’s long-standing goal of peaceful reunification, declaring a bilateral “two-state” framework that may be enshrined in the Workers’ Party constitution at the upcoming congress.
The display of new launch vehicles underscores Pyongyang’s focus on strengthening short-range nuclear-capable forces and intensifying military posturing as the party congress approaches.
