North Korea leader Kim Jong Un inspects artillery weapon system, attends test firing

"The updated multiple rocket launcher with high mobility and concentration of fire has an automatic fire combined control system and will be deployed to units of the Korean People's Army as replacement equipment from 2024 to 2026," KCNA said, adding such "a significant change" will soon be made in increasing the artillery combat ability of the North's army.

 

Last month, Kim inspected the test-firing of 240 mm multiple-launch rockets, where he said the 240 mm multiple-launch rocket system will "bring about a strategic change in strengthening the country's military's artillery capabilities.

 

Images released by state media showed Mr Kim conversing with military officials during an inspection of the launcher, as well as what appeared to be the live-fire test of the system.

The tests also proved the power of the “controllable shells for (the) multiple rocket launcher”, it added.

The largely isolated country has recently bolstered military ties with Russia, and Pyongyang thanked Moscow in April for using its UN Security Council veto to block the renewal of a panel of UN experts that monitored international weapons sanctions on Mr Kim’s regime.

South Korea and the United States have accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia, despite UN sanctions banning such a move.