N. Korea showcases 'Sniper' rocket launcher in weapons demonstration

North Korea demonstrated its Sniper 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher and drone weapons on Thursday, as South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff detected about 10 short-range ballistic missiles launched from Wonsan toward the East Sea. State media said the launcher fired publicly for the first time and claimed the weapons systems hit their targets accurately. Kim Jong-un called for rapidly expanding North Korea’s unmanned aeronautical technology and achieving superiority in drone capabilities.

The missiles detected by South Korea flew about 250 kilometers, and the launches marked North Korea’s 17th ballistic missile launch of the year.

The demonstration included tactical suicide attack drones, air-to-surface missiles launched from multipurpose drones, cruise missiles and a battalion of 600-mm multiple rocket launchers.

KCNA claimed the drones and cruise missiles struck an islet target with 100 percent accuracy and that the major weapons systems’ combat reliability and effectiveness had been verified.

A military official in Seoul said the launches were believed to involve the KN-25 super-large 600-mm multiple rocket launcher, which Pyongyang claims can carry Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warheads.

North Korean media photos showed Kim Jong-un with his daughter Ju-ae, his wife Ri Sol-Ju and Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Central Military Commission.

Published Oct 30, 2026 7:53 am KST

Updated Oct 30, 2026 11:25 am KST

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during an exhibition on unmanned aerial technology, Thursday, in this photo released by Korean Central News Agency the following day. Yonhap

North Korea has fired a 600-millimeter "ultra-precision" multiple rocket launcher and simulated drone strikes in a demonstration of key weapons, with leader Kim Jong-un emphasizing "absolute superiority" in securing unmanned attack capabilities, state media reported Friday.

The demonstration was held Thursday alongside an exhibition on unmanned aeronautical technology attended by leader Kim Jong-un, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The event took place on the same day that South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected around 10 short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea. The missiles flew about 250 kilometers.

North Korea's 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher, known as "Sniper," launches rockets during a firing demonstration attended by leader Kim Jong-un, Thursday, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency the following day. Yonhap

The exhibition featured various types of drones and other combat systems, while the weapons demonstration involved tactical suicide attack drones, tactical cruise missiles, multi-purpose drones and a 600-mm multiple rocket launcher battalion, the KCNA said.

"Tactical suicide attack drones, air-to-surface missiles from multi-purpose drones and cruise missiles hit the islet target with 100 percent accuracy," the report said.

It also said the multiple rocket launcher, called "Sniper," opened fire before the public for the first time, claiming that the combat reliability and effectiveness of "all the major weapon systems were successfully verified."

Photos released by North Korean media showed more than 10 600-mm multiple rocket launchers firing simultaneously, missiles being launched from drones and suicide attack drones striking mock targets believed to represent South Korean front-line guard posts and U.S. M1 Abrams tanks.

The KCNA did not disclose the locations of the exhibition or the weapons demonstration, but they are believed to have been held at Wonsan-Kalma Airport, judging by the structures seen in the released photos. North Korea staged an event marking the 80th founding anniversary of its air force there last year.

In a speech, Kim stressed the need to secure "absolute superiority" in drone technology, calling for the rapid expansion and strengthening of the country's unmanned aeronautical technology.

"Strength precisely means peace and peace is guaranteed only by strength. This is a matter of common sense needed to survive in the present noisy world," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

"The scientists of our country should go all out for obtaining miraculous results in development of unmanned aeronautical technology and AI for national defense, too, as we had access to the function of a nuclear weapons state and have made new leaps forward in upgrading conventional weapons," he added.

Photos published by the state media showed Kim being accompanied by his daughter, Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-Ju, as well as Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Thursday's launches marked the North's 17th ballistic missile launch of the year coming 17 days after its previous launch on Oct. 12.

A military official in Seoul said the launches are believed to have involved the North's KN-25 super-large 600-mm multiple rocket launcher, which Pyongyang claims can be fitted with its Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warheads.

周四，朝鲜展示了其“狙击手”600毫米多管火箭炮和无人机武器。与此同时，韩国联合参谋本部探测到约10枚短程弹道导弹从元山发射至东海。朝鲜官方媒体称，这是该火箭炮首次公开试射，并宣称武器系统精准击中目标。金正恩呼吁迅速发展朝鲜的无人机技术，并在无人机作战能力方面取得优势。

韩国探测到的导弹飞行了约 250 公里，此次发射标志着朝鲜今年第 17 次弹道导弹发射。

此次演示包括战术自杀式攻击无人机、从多用途无人机发射的空对地导弹、巡航导弹以及一个营的 600 毫米多管火箭炮。

朝中社声称，无人机和巡航导弹以100%的准确率击中了岛屿目标，并验证了主要武器系统的作战可靠性和有效性。

首尔一名军方官员表示，据信此次发射使用了KN-25超大型600毫米多管火箭炮，平壤方面声称该火箭炮可以携带华山-31战术核弹头。

朝鲜媒体照片显示，金正恩与女儿金珠爱、妻子李雪主以及朝鲜劳动党中央军事委员会副委员长朴正川在一起。

发布于2026年10月30日 上午7:53（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月30日上午11:25（韩国标准时间）

朝鲜中央通讯社次日发布了这张照片，照片显示朝鲜领导人金正恩周四在无人机技术展览会上发表讲话。（韩联社）

据朝鲜官方媒体周五报道，朝鲜试射了一枚600毫米“超精确”多管火箭炮，并模拟了无人机袭击，展示了其关键武器。朝鲜领导人金正恩强调，朝鲜在确保无人攻击能力方面拥有“绝对优势”。

据朝鲜中央通讯社（朝中社）报道，此次演示活动于周四举行，同时还举办了无人航空技术展览，朝鲜领导人金正恩出席了展览。

就在同一天，韩国联合参谋本部（JCS）探测到约10枚短程弹道导弹从元山地区向东海发射。这些导弹飞行了约250公里。

朝鲜中央通讯社次日发布的这张照片显示，朝鲜600毫米多管火箭炮“狙击手”在周四举行的实弹射击演习中发射火箭，朝鲜最高领导人金正恩出席了演习。（韩联社）

据朝中社报道，此次展览展出了各种类型的无人机和其他作战系统，武器演示包括战术自杀式攻击无人机、战术巡航导弹、多用途无人机和一个600毫米多管火箭炮营。

报告称，“战术自杀式攻击无人机、多用途无人机发射的空对地导弹和巡航导弹以 100% 的准确率击中了该岛屿目标。”

声明还称，名为“狙击手”的多管火箭炮首次在公众面前开火，并声称“所有主要武器系统的作战可靠性和有效性都得到了成功验证”。

朝鲜媒体发布的照片​​显示，超过 10 门 600 毫米多管火箭炮同时开火，无人机发射导弹，自杀式攻击无人机袭击模拟目标，据信这些目标代表韩国前线哨所和美国 M1 艾布拉姆斯坦克。

朝中社并未透露展览或武器演示的具体地点，但根据已公布照片中的建筑结构判断，据信是在元山葛麻机场举行的。去年，朝鲜曾在此举办活动，庆祝其空军成立80周年。

金正恩在讲话中强调，必须确保在无人机技术领域取得“绝对优势”，呼吁迅速扩大和加强该国的无人航空技术。

据朝中社报道，金正恩表示：“实力恰恰意味着和平，而和平只有实力才能保障。这是在当今喧嚣的世界中生存所必需的常识。”

“我国科学家应该全力以赴，在无人机技术和国防人工智能的发展方面取得奇迹般的成果，因为我们已经具备了核武器国家的功能，并且在升级常规武器方面取得了新的飞跃，”他补充道。

官方媒体发布的照片​​显示，金正恩与女儿金珠爱、妻子李雪主以及朝鲜劳动党中央军事委员会副委员长朴钟天一同出席活动。

周四的发射标志着朝鲜今年第 17 次弹道导弹发射，距离其 10 月 12 日的上一次发射已有 17 天。

首尔一位军方官员表示，据信此次发射使用了朝鲜的KN-25超大型600毫米多管火箭炮，平壤方面声称该火箭炮可以搭载其华山-31战术核弹头。