North Korea Tests Upgraded 240mm Rocket: "Most Lethal Firepower to Be Concentrated on Southern Border"

Weapon of the "Sea of Fire" Threat to the Seoul Metropolitan Area

North Korea publicly announced that it had test-fired an upgraded 240mm multiple rocket launcher (the North Korean term for multiple launch rocket system), raising the level of threat to the Seoul metropolitan area south of the Military Demarcation Line.

North Korea tests improved 240mm guided rocket projectile. Yonhap News Agency

On September 24, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, "On September 22, in accordance with the plan to modernize artillery and missile forces as part of the five-year national defense development goals, the defense science research sector conducted a test firing of a renewed 240mm guided rocket projectile."

KCNA stated, "The renewed 240mm guided rocket projectile has been equipped with an autonomous precision guidance system. It can strike targets up to 100 km away with a ballistic flight mode and up to 115 km with a gliding composite flight mode."

KCNA further claimed, "The test that day confirmed the projectile’s superior accuracy and performance."

The agency also reported, "Senior officials collectively expressed the opinion that the development of the extended-range guided rocket projectile will bring about a significant change in the southern border’s fire readiness posture."

Pak Jongchun, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party, stated, "The most lethal and destructive strike capabilities must be concentrated on the southern border," and added, "We must make sure the enemy realizes, as soon as possible, that all of our long-range strike assets have been renewed."

The agency also reported that he emphasized, "Establishing the strongest artillery force is the Party's core national defense construction strategy," and called for greater efforts and activity from the defense science research sector and the military-industrial workforce to further strengthen military power.

The test firing that day was supervised by Ko Byonghyun, Chairman of the Second Economic Committee, and attended by Vice Chairman Pak, Kim Jeongsik, First Deputy Director of the Central Committee, Jang Changha, Director General of the Missile General Bureau, and Yu Changsun, Chief of the Artillery Bureau of the Korean People's Army General Staff Department.

Previously, North Korea had conducted a test launch of the extended-range 240mm guided rocket projectile in May, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in attendance.

The 240mm multiple rocket launcher is North Korea’s main long-range artillery system often cited in its threat to turn Seoul into a "sea of fire." It is forward-deployed near the Military Demarcation Line for a sudden, large-scale strike against the Seoul metropolitan area. This artillery system has already been transferred to Russia and deployed in combat during the war in Ukraine.

On this day, North Korea claimed that the new 240mm guided rocket launcher, equipped with guidance capabilities, now has a maximum strike range of 115 km. This means the strike zone of the 240mm rocket launcher has expanded beyond Seoul to reach U.S. military bases in Osan and Pyeongtaek.

South Korean military authorities stated that they were already aware of North Korea’s new 240mm multiple rocket launcher test launch the previous day.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said, "On September 22, our military detected several rocket projectiles launched from the vicinity of South Pyongan Province toward the West Sea," and added, "Detailed specifications are currently under precise analysis."

The military further stated, "Under the robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture, we are closely monitoring North Korea’s diverse movements, and maintain capabilities and readiness able to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.