Pyongyang: North Korea conducted a firepower strike drill involving 600-millimeter ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers, attended by leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported Sunday. The drill, held by a long-range artillery sub-unit of the Korean People's Army in the western area, involved 12 "600 mm-caliber ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers and two artillery companies," as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's military detected approximately 10 ballistic missiles launched toward the East Sea from Sunan, near Pyongyang, on the previous day. These missiles flew about 350 kilometers and were perceived as North Korea's response to the ongoing annual South Korea-U.S. military exercise. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un emphasized that the weapon would be used for a "massive, destructive strike" if deterrents fail to prevent foreign forces from provoking or invading North Korea.
During the exercise, Kim Jong-un was accompanied by his daughter, Ju-ae. He described the drill as a routine exercise to evaluate the country's defensive stance and war deterrence capabilities, stating that such drills would be conducted "frequently" in the future. The KCNA highlighted that the rockets accurately struck an island target approximately 364.4 km away in the East Sea, showcasing the "destructive capability of their concentration strike."
Kim Jong-un praised the launchers, asserting that no tactical weapon surpasses their performance and that North Korea's "powerful attacking capability is for defending ourselves." He noted that the drill would cause uneasiness among forces hostile to North Korea within the 420-km striking range, describing it as a "means of deterring war." The leader also warned that once the weapon is deployed, "the opponent's military infrastructure within its striking range can never survive."
Kim Jong-un instructed all army units to engage in high-intensity practical maneuvers under simulated wartime conditions to maintain a full response posture. This missile launch coincided with remarks from Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, noting that U.S. President Donald Trump remained optimistic about resuming dialogue with Kim Jong-un.