North Korea Deploys Self-Propelled Artillery After Coastal Guns in Forward Areas

North Korea expected to soon deploy new three-part weapons system

North Korean self-propelled guns face south from a coastal border area in Gaepung County, Hwanghae Province, North Korea, as seen from Aegibong Observatory in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, on the 25th. Yonhap News Agency

North Korea is emphasizing its "blood alliance" with China while raising military tensions with South Korea. Recently, North Korean self-propelled guns believed to be 122mm models were reportedly deployed in a coastal border area of Gaepung County, Hwanghae Province. The move is intended to continue its show of force.

According to military officials on October 26, the site where North Korea deployed the self-propelled guns is only about 1.5 kilometers from Aegibong Observatory in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. The additional deployment of self-propelled guns alongside coastal artillery appears intended to underscore that North Korea can also attack with direct-fire weapons. North Korean 122mm self-propelled guns are a key artillery asset deployed in large numbers near the front lines, with a reported range of 15 to 24 kilometers. Artillery units generally use terrain features, such as the far side of a mountain, to conceal and protect themselves from enemy observation and attacks.

Some observers also say North Korea may hasten the deployment of a "three-pronged" new weapons system capable of bringing Seoul within range. The system consists of an upgraded 240mm 24-tube multiple rocket launcher, a new tactical ballistic missile, the Hwasongpho-11Ra, and a new 155mm self-propelled flat-trajectory gun, dubbed the "North Korean K9 self-propelled howitzer." In May, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that three battalions' worth of the new 155mm self-propelled flat-trajectory guns would be deployed to artillery units along the southern border during the year. The development of the new 155mm self-propelled flat-trajectory gun is seen as an effort to modernize and upgrade artillery, the most widely used form of firepower on the battlefield. Some analysts say North Korea's unveiling of 155mm shells, which are used as standard ammunition by most countries, including NATO members, may signal an intention to export them to pro-Russian countries.

Shin Jongwoo, secretary-general of the Korea Defense and Security Forum (KODEF), said, "It is highly unusual for the North Korean military to deploy self-propelled guns conspicuously in front of the barbed-wire fence," adding, "There is a possibility that additional deployments of other military assets will follow."

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