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World
Kim Jong Un orders deployment of self-propelled howitzers with a range exceeding 60 kilometers along the border with South Korea by year's end.
North Korean state media reported Friday that leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the deployment of long-range self-propelled howitzers along the border with South Korea. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) stated the new defensive systems will be positioned by the end of this year as part of Pyongyang's efforts to bolster its military capabilities.
Kim visited a major munitions factory on May 6, inspecting the production of key weapons and combat equipment during the first half of the year, according to KCNA. During the visit, he reviewed the output of a new type of self-propelled howitzer intended for three battalions. These units are slated for deployment in a long-range artillery unit on the southern border this year, following a decision made at the first general meeting of the ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
The range of the new self-propelled howitzer exceeds 60 kilometers, which KCNA noted is sufficient to place Seoul within striking distance from North Korea's forward positions. Kim was quoted as saying that 2026 will see an unprecedented development in the drive to strengthen national defense capabilities. He urged officials to achieve "tangible successes on a daily basis" by intensifying efforts to boost military readiness.
This week, Kim also oversaw naval maneuverability tests for one of two modern destroyers, KCNA reported. On Thursday, he visited the destroyer "Choi Hyun" to supervise an evaluation of its maneuvering capabilities before its commissioning. His daughter, Kim Ju-ae, accompanied him on the inspection tour.
Kim boarded the vessel and participated in a navigation test conducted in the Yellow Sea, also inspecting the ship's operational capabilities and combat readiness. Expressing satisfaction with the ship's construction progress, he ordered its delivery to the navy by mid-June, in line with the established plan, according to the state news agency.
North Korea first unveiled the "Choi Hyun" destroyer in April of last year as part of broader efforts to modernize its naval forces. After the commissioning of a similar destroyer named "Kang Kon" in June 2025, Kim ordered the construction of a third vessel of the same class, coinciding with the anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on October 10.
North Korea continues to reject any treaty that would limit its nuclear capabilities.
