Kim Jong-Un test fires rocket launcher, vows to continue developing nuclear

North Korea’s top leader Kim Jong-Un has again guided a test firing of the new, large-caliber multiple rocket launcher, the country’s official news agency KCNA reported on Tuesday.

Kim expressed his satisfaction with the accuracy of the rockets used and lauded the officials and scientists involved for producing the launching system, Xinhua quoted a report by KCNA.

The rocket launcher is “of great strategic importance in remarkably increasing the capability of the KPA (Korean People’s Army) to mount a precision attack on the enemies in the southern part of Korea,” the KCNA reported Kim as saying.

Kim was accompanied by director of the general political bureau of the KPA, Hwang Pyong So, and chief of the KPA general staff, Ri Myong Su, as well as other party and military officials.

The test firing came amid high tensions between the two Koreas as the US and South Korea are carrying out their large-scale military exercises. Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned and called for suspension of the war games, claiming they are “war rehearsals for northward invasion”.

On Monday, North Korea fired five short-range projectiles that flew about 200 kilometres into its eastern seawaters, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

KCNA reported that the top leader also visited a remodeled factory under the KPA Navy for repairing warships, where he emphasised the importance of developing the naval force and strengthening the country’s coastal defence.

On 3 March, Kim had guided the test firing of the newly developed large-caliber multiple rocket launcher for the first time. When he watched the test firing, he ordered his military to be prepared to fire the deployed nuclear warheads at any time and stressed that the North Korea will continue to develop its nuclear weapons.