N. Korea test-fires upgraded multiple-rocket launcher shells

North Korea said Thursday it test-fired shells for an upgraded 240mm multiple rocket launcher system, saying the weapons are meant to strengthen border firepower against South Korea. KCNA said the test was conducted Tuesday under a five-year plan to modernize artillery and missile forces. Pak Jong-chon said North Korea should concentrate its deadliest attack forces on the southern border. The rockets were said to reach 100 kilometers in trajectory mode and 115 km in combined glide mode.

The test involved upgraded 240mm-caliber controlled multiple-launch rockets under North Korea’s five-year plan to modernize artillery and missile forces.

KCNA said the rockets use an autonomous pinpoint guide system.

The weapons were described as capable of hitting a target 100 kilometers away in trajectory flight mode and 115 km away in combined glide mode.

Pak Jong-chon is the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party.

North Korea said it has focused on upgrading striking means since declaring inter-Korean ties as relations between two hostile states in 2023.

Published Sep 24, 2026 8:57 am KST

This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Thursday, shows the North test-firing shells for an upgraded 240mm multiple rocket launcher system on Tuesday. Yonhap

North Korea said Thursday it has test-fired shells for an upgraded 240mm multiple rocket launcher system, stressing the need to deploy the "deadliest" attack forces along the border with South Korea.

North Korea conducted a test of upgraded 240mm-caliber controlled multiple-launch rockets Tuesday under the country's five-year plan for modernizing artillery and missile forces, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Leading military cadres overseeing the test said "the development of range-extended rockets assures them of a significant change in the firepower readiness along the southern border," according to the report.

Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party, stressed the need to "concentrate the deadliest and destructive attack forces on the southern border," according to the KCNA.

"He underscored the need to make the enemy aware of the fact that we have replaced all our armed forces' long-range strike means with the latest ones at the earliest date," it said.

The rockets equipped with the "autonomous pinpoint guide system" are capable of striking a target 100 kilometers away in a trajectory flight mode and 115 km away in a combined glide mode, according to the report.

Since North Korea declared inter-Korean ties as those between "two states hostile to each other" in 2023, it appears to have focused on upgrading the performance of striking means that could put South Korea within its range.

朝鲜周四表示，已试射升级版240毫米多管火箭炮系统的炮弹，称此举旨在加强对韩边境的火力。朝中社报道称，此次试射是周二进行的，是朝鲜五年炮兵和导弹部队现代化计划的一部分。朴正川表示，朝鲜应将最致命的攻击力量集中在南部边境。据悉，这些火箭弹在直线飞行模式下射程可达100公里，在滑翔模式下射程可达115公里。

此次试验涉及升级后的 240 毫米口径可控多管火箭炮，这是朝鲜为实现炮兵和导弹部队现代化而制定的五年计划的一部分。

朝中社称，这些火箭采用了自主精确制导系统。

据称，这些武器在弹道飞行模式下能够击中 100 公里外的目标，在滑翔飞行模式下能够击中 115 公里外的目标。

朴正川是执政的劳动党中央军事委员会副委员长。

朝鲜表示，自2023年宣布朝韩关系为两个敌对国家之间的关系以来，朝鲜一直致力于提升打击手段。

发布于2026年9月24日上午8:57（韩国标准时间）

这张照片由朝鲜官方通讯社朝中社周四发布，显示朝鲜周二试射了升级版240毫米多管火箭炮系统的炮弹。（韩联社）

朝鲜周四表示，已试射升级版 240 毫米多管火箭炮系统的炮弹，强调有必要在朝韩边境部署“最致命”的攻击力量。

据朝中社报道，朝鲜周二进行了升级版240毫米口径可控多管火箭的试射，这是该国五年炮兵和导弹部队现代化计划的一部分。

据报道，负责监督此次试验的高级军事干部表示，“增程火箭的研制使他们确信南部边境的火力战备能力将发生重大变化”。

据朝中社报道，执政的劳动党中央军事委员会副委员长朴正川强调，需要“将最具杀伤力和破坏力的攻击力量集中在南部边境”。

声明称：“他强调，必须让敌人意识到，我们已经尽早用最新装备替换了我们武装部队的所有远程打击手段。”

报告称，配备“自主精确制导系统”的火箭，在轨迹飞行模式下能够击中 100 公里外的目标，在滑翔模式下能够击中 115 公里外的目标。

自朝鲜在 2023 年宣布朝韩关系为“两个相互敌对的国家”关系以来，它似乎一直致力于提升打击手段的性能，以便将韩国纳入其打击范围。