N. Korea confirms it test-fired new large-caliber multiple rocket launcher under Kim Jong-un's guidance
  • 5 years ago
North Korea's state media has released a report about its missile launch that occurred just over 24 hours ago.
It said, under Kim Jong-un's direct supervision, the regime test-fired a new rocket system which is different from the analysis that South Korea laid out on Wednesday.
For more, we have our Unification Ministry Correspondent Oh Jung-hee on the line.
Jung-hee, fill us in.

Mark,
Pyeongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency, as usual, released a report this morning about its rocket test the previous day.
And it confirmed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the test-fire of a "newly developed large-caliber multiple-launch guided rocket system."
The agency added that the North's new multiple rocket launcher has reached the designed numerical values and proved its combat effectiveness.
The North's leader Kim Jong-un commented that the launch was great and this would be a (quote)"inescapable distress to a fat target of the weapon."
Though the report didn't clarify who Pyeongyang's "fat target" would be, speculation is that the North is once again taking aim at South Korea for its military drills with the U.S. scheduled for later this month.
But unlike last week, Pyeongyang didn't explicitly say that the launch was an intended show of force, instead describing it as just a test-fire.

Now,... what the North says it fired a multiple launch guided rocket system is different from what the South Korean military had announced the day before.
Seoul had said... North Korea fired (quote)"short-range ballistic missiles."
It is possible that the military confused the multiple rocket launcher with short-range ballistic missiles because they have similar flying ranges.
And we will have to hear further from the military today and will make sure to keep you posted.
Mark.
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