Kim Jong Un Oversees Weapons Test Threatening South Korean Capital

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the testing of upgraded artillery and missile systems, with a firing range claimed to be capable of reaching parts of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Analysts have described Pyongyang’s weapons test as a ‘show of force’ directed at Seoul. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim supervised the test of ‘major weapons’, which included a multiple rocket launcher and a warhead for a ballistic missile. Kim emphasised the need for ‘national defence development’ to ensure ‘no enemy dares to confront’ North Korea, a country that technically remains at war with its neighbour, the South. The KCNA report stated that Thursday’s test ‘analysed and evaluated the combat characteristics for an upgraded 240mm calibre multiple rocket launcher with 24 barrels, the destructive power of a special-mission warhead for a tactical ballistic missile, and the firing accuracy of a long-range projectile from a 155mm calibre self-propelled howitzer’. Kim expressed satisfaction with the test results, saying it demonstrated progress in enhancing firepower along the southern border through improved automation, extended range, and higher precision. He further stressed that Pyongyang is not only focused on defence but also on strengthening a ‘lethal and destructive offensive posture’. KCNA noted that the tested rocket launcher system is equipped with a new precision guidance system with self-steering capability, and its range has been increased to 90 kilometres. This distance is sufficient to reach parts of the Seoul metropolitan area from positions near the inter-Korean border. The report added that the warhead is ‘designed to inflict fatal damage on key enemy targets, including airfields, ports, and power generation facilities’. Analyst Yang Moo Jin, a former rector of the University of North Korean Studies, told AFP that the details provided by Pyongyang constitute a ‘show of force aimed at the South Korean capital region’. These details included the 90-kilometre range for the multiple rocket launcher, a 65-kilometre range for the howitzer, and the identification of targets such as airfields, ports, and power plants. ‘Notably, they have revealed their strategic intent by framing provocations that trigger public anxiety and fear, through routine military demonstrations, as a form of war deterrence,’ Yang said in his analysis. North Korea is subject to various United Nations sanctions banning the development of nuclear weapons and the use of ballistic missile technology, provisions it has repeatedly violated. Earlier this month, Kim vowed to strengthen North Korea’s defence capabilities, citing military modernisation efforts by South Korea and the United States, which he claimed have pushed the region ‘to the brink of nuclear war’. Days later, the North Korean leader stated that Pyongyang would equip its navy with nuclear weapons and build larger warships.