The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has allegedly tested a new "controlled" rocket artillery shell and ballistic control system, North Korean Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on February 10.
Tested by the Academy of Defense Development, the DPRK fired the 240mm controlled rocket "to evaluate their accuracy and prove their advantages." KCNA stated.
KCNA gave no further information about the system's new capabilities or performance in the test. Still, they stated that the academy was confident the role of 240mm multiple rocket launchers would dramatically improve the nation's military capabilities.
"The development of 240 mm-caliber controllable multiple rocket launcher shell and its ballistic control system will make a qualitative change in our army's multiple rocket launcher force," KCNA said.
Released images from the KCNA show a 22-tube setup on a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL), similar to North Korea's existing capabilities.
According to Yang Uk, NK News reports, a military analyst at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies, North Korea would consider the new artillery a crucial instrument to enhance the precision of its "corps-level battery." This would be more useful in striking military objectives than hitting "civilian or psychological targets."
This news comes amid increasing war rhetoric against South Korea and the potential deployment of more powerful weapons near the demilitarized zone on the peninsula.
More North Korean saber rattling
However, Seoul will not be too concerned by the new 240mm guided shells as the threat posed is limited compared to Pyongyang's existing KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles and 600mm artillery.
"North Korea wants to threaten us by trying to label their new system [as a guided weapon], but our military already knows they were developing this," Yang Uk explained to NK News. "If this is what they are trying to scare us with, I'm quite disappointed," he added.
He also described that although the new guided rocket system does pose a low threat level, South Korea may need to implement Counter Rockets, Artillery, and Mortars (C-RAM) defenses and develop a mobile version of its low-altitude missile defense (LAMD) system to deal with these potential threats effectively.
That said, Yang doubted North Korea's claims regarding the new artillery. He pointed out that the state media's low-resolution images showed no canards on the rocket tips, unlike the 300mm and 600mm precision-guided rockets. This is a valid observation, as a canard is a horizontal surface mounted on the fuselage in front of the main wing.
Canards are used to provide control and stability in the longitudinal direction. Depending on the design, it may be a fixed, moveable, or variable surface and may or may not have control surfaces incorporated into it.
Developed for export?
Although KCNA emphasized the system's significance for North Korea's military, developing new artillery shells could also benefit the country's arms trade. Furthermore, reports indicate that Russian forces are using weapons of North Korean origin to attack Ukraine.
Yang thinks Moscow could benefit from the new artillery, as it already uses heavy mortars against Ukraine. Due to financial difficulties, North Korea may also be interested in selling the weapon.
"North Korea doesn't have that much money to arm its own conventional forces with these expensive rounds. In my view, it is possible that this is mainly for exports," he added.
