"Particularly large"

North Korea’s army presents new missile launchers

North Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un (center) during a military exercise on Monday

(Bild: AFP)

North Korea's military has presented "newly equipped, particularly large" multiple rocket launchers. The weapon can be equipped with a tactical nuclear explosive. The exercises, which would test the "real war capabilities" of the multiple rocket launchers, were supervised by ruler Kim Jong Un.

According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, the system in question is one that the military in Seoul and Washington refer to as the KN-25 - and which fires the short-range ballistic missiles of the same name. The South Korean military had already said on Sunday that it had registered the launch of several missiles by North Korea during a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Missiles at their launch

(Bild: AFP)

Kim Jong Un with the North Korean military

(Bild: AFP)

Weapons to be further developed
Kim has already said that he wants to further develop weapons, including tactical nuclear weapons. The multiple rocket launcher that has now been presented is also to be equipped with a tactical nuclear explosive. In response, the South Korean military has stepped up its cooperation with the US military.

Last week, the two ended their joint military maneuver "Freedom Shield", during which missile interception and air strikes were practiced, among other things. Kim took this as an opportunity to present a new tank on the last day of the maneuver. The ruler himself sat behind the wheel at the presentation. His government had previously declared that the US and South Korean governments would pay a "high price" for their exercises.