North Korea announced plans to install new self-propelled artillery weapons along the border with South Korea, which could place Seoul within direct attack range.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim Jong Un visited a weapons factory to oversee the production of a new 155mm self-propelled howitzer.
The weapon has a firing range of over 60 kilometers and is scheduled to be deployed this year in long-range artillery units along the South Korean border.
The report noted that Seoul is only about 50-60 kilometers from the North Korean border, meaning the South Korean capital and much of Gyeonggi Province—the country's most populous and industrial center—could be within range of this new weapon. Kim Jong Un stated that the new artillery would bring significant changes and advantages to the army's ground operations.
Despite South Korea's efforts to signal peace, North Korea continues a hardline stance, recently removing references to Korean reunification from its constitution and officially defining new territorial boundaries that separate South Korea.
Analysts view these moves as a major strategic shift by North Korea, potentially heightening security tensions in the East Asian region.
Meanwhile, KCNA also released images of Kim Jong Un inspecting the 5,000-ton destroyer named "Cho Hyun" prior to its official commissioning, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae. The images show the North Korean leader dining with naval personnel aboard the warship. Experts believe this destroyer may be capable of launching strategic cruise missiles equipped with nuclear warheads.
:sourcechannelnewsasia
Read more news aboutInternational News