North Korea displayed 50 units of 600 mm-caliber multiple rocket launchers for its upcoming party congress, with leader Kim Jong-un praising the weapon as the world's most powerful and vowing to reveal further defense strengthening plans.
North Korea held a ceremony on February 18 in Pyongyang where workers from a leading munitions company presented 50 units of 600 millimeter-caliber multiple rocket launchers to the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the event on Thursday.
The weapon, last tested in January with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, has a range of about 400 kilometers and appears ready for field deployment, according to the KCNA. Photos showed rows of the launchers in the yard of the April 25 House of Culture, the venue for the congress scheduled for late February.
In a speech, Kim hailed the launcher as the "world's most advantageous weapon for concentrated super-powerful attack." He stated, "This is a focused strike weapon most powerful in the world. The precision and power of tactical ballistic missile and the multiple launching functions of tubes are perfectly combined in this weapon," describing it as a "wonderful and attractive weapon."
The leader noted the weapon is equipped with artificial intelligence technology and a compound guidance system, making it "appropriate for a special attack" or a "strategic mission." Kim claimed, "This large-caliber super-precision multiple launch rocket system, the one and only weapon in the world, has completely changed the role and conception of artillery accepted by modern warfare." He added, "I dare say it is more than clear that once this weapon is used, our belligerents' military infrastructure and command system will break down all at once."
Based on this success, the Ninth Congress will unveil "the next-stage plan and goal for strengthening the self-reliant defense capabilities," indicating a possible roadmap for new weapons development. "Our undertaking for constantly upgrading the military strength capable of forcefully containing any threat and challenge by outside forces will be further accelerated," Kim said.
