PYONGYANG, : North Korea has formally unveiled 50 newly manufactured 600mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) during a presentation ceremony held in central Pyongyang, marking a significant expansion of its large-caliber artillery capabilities ahead of the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.
The event took place at the plaza outside the April 25 House of Culture, where defense industry workers displayed the upgraded systems before senior officials and military representatives. The unveiling signals the transition of the new systems from production to active deployment within the Korean People’s Army.
Design Modifications and Technical Configuration
The newly introduced 600mm systems represent an upgraded configuration of North Korea’s existing large-caliber rocket artillery platform. The most visible structural modification is the launcher assembly, which now incorporates five launch tubes mounted on a four-axle vehicle chassis. Previous versions were equipped with four tubes.
The addition of a fifth launch tube increases the number of rockets that can be fired in a single salvo, thereby enhancing firepower density per launcher. The system remains road-mobile, allowing rapid relocation and operational flexibility.
South Korean and United States intelligence agencies classify the 600mm platform — widely known by its U.S. designation KN-25 — as a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) system rather than conventional rocket artillery. This classification is based on its flight characteristics and guidance mechanisms.
AI Integration and Guidance System
During the ceremony, Kim Jong Un inspected the systems and drove one of the launch vehicles. He stated that the upgraded platform is equipped with artificial intelligence-based technology and a composite guidance system.
According to official statements, the rockets follow a controlled ballistic trajectory and are fitted with movable fins that allow in-flight course correction. Unlike traditional unguided multiple launch rocket systems, the 600mm rockets are designed to adjust their flight path to improve accuracy.
Kim described the integration of AI guidance as a development that alters traditional artillery concepts by combining large-caliber firepower with precision guidance capabilities.
Operational Range and Strike Parameters
The 600mm rockets have an estimated operational range of approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles). At this range, the system can reach targets across the entirety of South Korea from positions within North Korean territory.
North Korean state media refers to the platform as a “super-large” multiple rocket launcher. However, external military assessments categorize it as a ballistic missile system due to its flight profile and range.
Kim stated that the system’s precision and power make it suitable for carrying out “strategic missions.” In North Korean military terminology, this phrase typically indicates compatibility with tactical nuclear warheads, although no specific payload details were disclosed during the event.
Production Timeline and Deployment
The 50 upgraded systems were reportedly produced over a two-month period by North Korean defense enterprises following testing activities conducted in late January 2026. The scale and pace of production indicate an acceleration in output within the country’s defense manufacturing sector.
The public presentation confirms that the five-tube 600mm systems are moving into operational service. The Korean People’s Army is expected to integrate the new units into its artillery and missile forces as part of broader force modernization efforts.
Kim indicated that additional military and defense-industrial expansion plans will be outlined at the forthcoming Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
The unveiling of the upgraded systems reflects North Korea’s continued emphasis on enhancing precision-guided strike capabilities while maintaining large-caliber, high-volume firepower platforms within its conventional and strategic arsenal.
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