Analysts suspect Pyongyang is testing new weapons and increasing its production of artillery and cruise missiles before sending them to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
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North Korea will equip its army with a new 240mm multiple rocket launcher starting this year, the state news agency reported on Saturday (May 11), adding that another “significant change” of its artillery capabilities was underway. This device will be “deployed in units of the Korean People’s Army (…) between 2024 and 2026”according to the official KCNA news agency.
Kim Jong Un said he wanted “take it to the highest level” the production of this new weapon and also announced “a significant change” For “strengthening the combat capability of artillery” of the country, without giving further details, according to KCNA. For its part, Pyongyang claimed that eight shells had “hit their target”illustrating “the destructive power of the updated 240mm multiple rocket launcher system”. South Korea’s Defense Ministry said it could not confirm the North Korean tests.
The announcement of the latest exercises comes as analysts suspect Pyongyang is testing new weapons and increasing its production of artillery and cruise missiles before sending them to Russia for its war in Ukraine. South Korea and the United States have accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Moscow despite United Nations sanctions prohibiting it from doing so.
