“It can hit Seoul” –

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, witnessed the testing of a new 240mm multiple rocket launcher system capable of hitting Seoul. This was reported today by the official North Korean news agency «Korean Central News Agency» («Kcna»), according to which the new artillery system was developed by a newly established company, and its introduction «will bring regarding a change strategic in the process of consolidating the artillery force of the Korean People’s Army.” Kim reportedly attended the testing as part of celebrations for the 92nd anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army. For the occasion, the North Korean leader also visited Kim Il Sung University in Pyongayng yesterday. The new rocket launcher system had already been tested last February: images dating back to the first test show a mobile launcher with a 22 launch tube configuration. According to experts quoted by the “Japan Times” newspaper, the new system is capable of launching guided rockets with a range of between 40 and 60 kilometers, and Pyongyang might also try to sell it to Russia.

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Kim Jong-un attended a “nuclear counterattack” exercise conducted by the country’s armed forces on Monday 22 April. This was announced by the official press agency “Korean Central News Agency”, thus indirectly confirming the news of the launch of short-range ballistic missiles reported by Japan and South Korea. According to the agency, Kim personally directed the operations of a unit of “multiple super-heavy rocket launchers”, which will have “an important role in substantially strengthening the ready counterattack capability of the country’s nuclear force”. Just on April 22, Admiral Kim Kyung-soo, chief of staff of the South Korean armed forces, met in Seoul with General Stephen Whiting, head of the Space Command of the US Armed Forces, to discuss the development of North Korean military satellites and the military cooperation between Pyongyang and Russia.