North Korea has tested a new mobile rocket launch system that analysts have compared to the American HIMARS, one of the most prominent weapons of the war in Ukraine.
According to a report by the website Defence Blog, which cited information from the state agency KCNA, the test was personally supervised by Kim Jong-un and also included 240 mm guided rockets and a tactical cruise missile assisted by artificial intelligence.
The new launcher was developed as part of the country’s military modernization plan and is expected to be integrated into units positioned near the border with South Korea. Images released by state media show a wheeled vehicle with modular launch tubes, a configuration visually similar to the American HIMARS system.
Experts say North Korea is trying to develop a mobile and rapid-response strike capability, something considered essential in modern conflicts. The HIMARS gained notoriety for its precision and mobility, especially after its extensive use by Ukrainian forces against Russian troops.
In addition to the new launcher, Pyongyang also presented a modernized version of 240 mm guided rockets equipped with a high-precision autonomous navigation system. According to KCNA, the weapon had an extended range and a greater ability to hit specific targets.
The cruise missile tested during the exercises was described by state media as being equipped with terrain-based navigation and artificial intelligence-assisted guidance systems. North Korea claims the missile can hit targets up to 100 kilometers away with high precision.
In recent months, the North Korean regime has accelerated tests of long-range artillery systems, including the 600 mm KN-25, often described as a mix between a multiple rocket launcher and a short-range ballistic missile. Analysts see these programs as part of Pyongyang’s strategy to expand its precision strike capability against South Korean and American targets in the region.
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Photo: KNCA. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
