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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw tests of upgraded artillery and missile systems, state media said Friday, as Pyongyang pressed ahead with efforts to modernise its conventional forces.
Kim supervised the tests of “major weapons” conducted by defence research institutes under the country’s five-year military development plan, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
The tests evaluated an upgraded 240-millimetre multiple rocket launcher with a reported range of 90 kilometres (56 miles), a “special mission” warhead for a tactical ballistic missile, and extended-range 155-millimetre self-propelled howitzer shells capable of reaching 65 kilometres, according to KCNA.
The North’s leader expressed satisfaction with the results and said the tests demonstrated progress in improving firepower along the southern border through greater automation, longer range and higher precision.
Kim also reiterated that Pyongyang’s self-defence policy was aimed not only at strengthening defensive capabilities but also at enhancing what he described as a “deadly and destructive offensive posture” to deter adversaries.
He called for the rapid deployment of upgraded long-range strike systems and stressed that developing the country’s artillery and missile forces remained a priority under a five-year defence plan.
