North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported on Monday that the country’s leader Kim Jong Un attended a ceremony in Pyongyang on Sunday, where 250 new tactical ballistic missile launch vehicles were transferred to frontline units near the southern border. Kim vowed to enhance the country’s nuclear capabilities to counter the United States in the shortest possible time.
According to Bloomberg, North Korea stated that the deployment of these 250 new mobile launchers for ballistic missiles could enable nuclear strikes against South Korea and U.S. bases in South Korea, marking one of the country’s largest displays of missile power.
KCNA quoted Kim Jong Un as saying, “The rapidly changing global security environment and the unchecked expansion of military alliances led by the United States have led us to conclude that we must more thoroughly and comprehensively prepare our national nuclear capabilities and posture.”
Koh Yu-hwan, an honorary professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University in South Korea, suggested that Kim’s remarks could be in response to the upcoming joint military exercises planned by the U.S. and South Korea in August.
Every year in August, the U.S. and South Korea conduct joint military exercises known as “Ulchi Freedom Guardian.” North Korea has consistently condemned these exercises as a rehearsal for invading North Korea.
Weapons experts noted that images released by North Korean state media show each launcher capable of carrying four missiles, likely intended for launching the Hwasong 11D short-range ballistic missile with a test range between 100 to 300 kilometers (62 to 186 miles). It remains uncertain whether North Korea has produced a thousand of these missiles.
These launch vehicles are designed for concealment and rapid deployment, capable of launching missiles to most areas of South Korea and local U.S. military bases within minutes.
Former U.S. government official Vann Van Diepen wrote in an article for the “38 North Program” website specializing in North Korea analysis in May that these deployments underscore Pyongyang’s threat to South Korea, which includes both nuclear and conventional threats.
South Korean officials suggested that these missiles are part of recent demonstrations of weapons by North Korea in the past few months, and there is concern about the possibility of them being used in the conflict in Ukraine involving Russia.
The U.S., South Korea, and other countries have accused North Korea of transporting large quantities of ammunition and the latest short-range ballistic missiles to Russia. However, both Pyongyang and Moscow have denied these allegations.