Kim Jong Un Unveils 50 AI‑Guided 600 mm Rocket Launchers Ahead of Ninth Party Congress
Updated (63 articles)
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Image: YonhapThis photo, published by the Korean Central News Agency on Feb. 19, 2026, shows 600 millimeter-caliber multiple rocket launchers at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang after they were presented to the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea on Feb. 18. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) Source Full size -
Image: YonhapThese photos, published by the Korean Central News Agency on Feb. 19, 2026, show North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) and 600 millimeter-caliber multiple rocket launchers at a ceremony the previous day to present them to the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) Source Full size -
Image: YonhapThis photo, published by the Korean Central News Agency on Feb. 19, 2026, shows 600 millimeter-caliber multiple rocket launchers at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang after they were presented to the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea on Feb. 18. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) Source Full size -
Image: YonhapThis photo, published by the Korean Central News Agency on Feb. 19, 2026, shows 600 millimeter-caliber multiple rocket launchers at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang after they were presented to the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea on Feb. 18. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) Source Full size
Kim Demonstrates New KN‑25 Launchers on Feb 18 On February 18, 2026, Kim Jong Un rode a newly‑produced KN‑25 multiple‑rocket launcher during a ceremony in Pyongyang. State media showed him climbing into the driver’s seat and operating the 600 mm system while crowds waved flags. The event featured fifty launchers that had just been handed over to the Korean People’s Army[1][2][3].
Five‑Tube TELs Feature AI and 400 km Reach Each launcher is mounted on a four‑axle transporter‑erector‑launcher carrying five rocket tubes. North Korean officials claim the system integrates artificial‑intelligence and compound guidance to achieve “super‑precision” against targets up to roughly 400 kilometers away. Analysts note the 600 mm KN‑25’s range exceeds that of the U.S. HIMARS and that it can be equipped with tactical nuclear warheads[1][3][2].
Showcase Signals Defense Priorities for Ninth Congress The display was timed to precede the Ninth Workers’ Party Congress, scheduled for late February, where leadership will outline a new “self‑reliant defense” roadmap. KCNA quoted Kim describing the launcher as “the world’s most advantageous weapon for concentrated super‑powerful attack,” emphasizing its role in future doctrine. Observers point to North Korea’s unofficial “second economy,” which diverts resources from civilian needs to weapons production, as a driving force behind the mass‑production of the launchers[1][2][3].
Analysts Link Russian Support to Accelerated Weapons Development Analysts connect the rapid fielding of the KN‑25 to Pyongyang’s material support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, suggesting combat experience and technical exchange may have refined the system. They also highlight that North Korea is estimated to possess about fifty nuclear warheads with material for 30‑40 more, underscoring the strategic significance of a nuclear‑capable artillery platform. The emphasis on AI‑guided, long‑range rockets reflects a broader shift toward integrating advanced technology into the regime’s conventional forces[2][1].
Sources
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1.
Newsweek: Kim Jong Un Displays New Nuclear‑Capable KN‑25 Rocket Launchers: Details the public handover of fifty KN‑25 launchers, AI‑enhanced guidance, nuclear warhead capability, and links the display to the upcoming ninth Workers’ Party Congress and North Korea’s weapons‑focused “second economy”.
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CNN: Kim Jong Un Drives New 600 mm Rocket Launcher Ahead of Party Congress: Highlights Kim personally operating a 600 mm launcher, the AI‑guided five‑tube system, its propaganda role before the ninth congress, and analysts’ view that Russian support may accelerate North Korea’s weapons development.
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Yonhap: North Korea Showcases 600 mm Multiple Rocket Launchers Ahead of Party Congress: Reports the delivery of fifty launchers with a claimed 400 km range, a January test attended by Kim, and the system’s portrayal as a “super‑powerful attack tool” in the lead‑up to the ninth party congress.
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Timeline
Dec 9, 2025 – North Korea fires about ten 240 mm artillery rockets toward the northern Yellow Sea in routine winter drills, demonstrating a system that can reach Seoul and underscoring Pyongyang’s artillery threat [29].
Dec 15, 2025 – South Korea deploys the Korean Tactical Surface‑to‑Missile (KTSSM) at Wonju, a “long‑range artillery killer” developed since the 2010 Yeonpyeong shelling, enhancing its ability to strike concealed North Korean artillery [28].
Dec 19, 2025 – Kim Jong‑un opens new regional factories, pays tribute to his father, and urges completion of major Workers’ Party projects before the ninth party congress slated for 2026, linking economic construction to the upcoming political milestone [27].
Dec 24, 2025 – Kim oversees a test‑fire of new anti‑air missiles over the East Sea, signaling continued development of air‑defence capabilities despite limited technical details [26].
Dec 26, 2025 – Kim orders a 2.5‑fold expansion of missile and shell production and announces that decisions on new munitions factories will be taken at the forthcoming ninth party congress, emphasizing modernization of the war deterrent [24].
Dec 29, 2025 – Kim urges accelerated production of large‑caliber multiple‑rocket launchers, calling them “strategic” weapons that will integrate nuclear capability and recalling the 2021 congress’s unveiling of high‑tech arms [23].
Jan 2, 2026 – Kim leads a Constitution Day flag‑raising ceremony, supervises a long‑range cruise‑missile test in the Yellow Sea, and opens a new paper mill, repeatedly stressing unlimited development of the nuclear force [22].
Jan 4, 2026 – North Korea launches several ballistic missiles that travel roughly 900 km into the East Sea, prompting South Korea’s emergency security meeting, a UN‑resolution condemnation, and occurring just hours before President Lee Jae‑Myung’s Beijing summit [17].
Jan 4, 2026 – During a visit to a munitions factory, Kim orders production capacity for tactical guided weapons to more than double, framing the expansion as preparation for the ninth Workers’ Party Congress [2].
Jan 4, 2026 – North Korea tests hypersonic missiles that strike targets about 1,000 km away in the East Sea, with Kim present and declaring the drill proves the readiness of the DPRK’s nuclear forces [13].
Jan 4, 2026 – South Korea publicly condemns the missile launch as a provocative UN‑resolution violation and urges Pyongyang to cease all provocations immediately [12].
Jan 19, 2026 – Seoul fields the Hyunmoo‑5 “monster” ballistic missile—65 ft long, carrying an 8‑ton warhead—under a three‑axis deterrence framework, with deployment slated for completion by 2030 [4].
Jan 26‑30, 2026 – Kim tours Ukraine‑war memorial art, attends a regional development ceremony, oversees a short‑range ballistic missile launch (Jan 27) and a large‑caliber MRLS test (Jan 28), while the central committee elects delegates for the upcoming party congress and diplomatic overtures reach Vietnam and Iran [7].
Jan 27, 2026 – North Korea test‑fires an upgraded large‑caliber MRLS, launching four rockets that hit a water target 358.5 km away; Kim highlights a self‑steered guided‑flight system and ties the demonstration to the forthcoming ninth party congress [9].
Jan 27, 2026 – South Korea denounces the MRLS test as a UN‑Security‑Council violation, calling for an immediate halt to North Korean provocations [11].
Feb 18, 2026 – Workers’ Party delegates receive 50 newly produced 600 mm multiple‑rocket launchers with a 400 km range, AI guidance and “super‑powerful attack” capability, marking a major artillery upgrade ahead of the congress [6].
Feb 19, 2026 – Kim personally operates a 600 mm rocket launcher, showcases 50 wheeled launchers each carrying five rockets, and claims the AI‑guided rockets equal short‑range ballistic missiles, asserting no other nation possesses such a system [1].
Feb 19, 2026 – Kim unveils 50 KN‑25 launchers that outrange U.S. HIMARS, incorporate AI and compound guidance, and promises they will cripple enemy command structures as they are formally transferred to the Korean People’s Army [3].
Feb 2026 (early month) – The ninth Workers’ Party Congress convenes, expected to set a five‑year roadmap for “self‑reliant defense” and to announce new economic and defence priorities, following weeks of weapons displays and production expansions [1].
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