This image, published by the Korean Central News Agency on Nov. 22, 2024, shows the “National Defense Development-2024″ weaponry exhibition, which opened in Pyongyang the previous day. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — A North Korean weaponry exhibition featured the country’s latest arms, ranging from suicide bombing drones to solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, North Korean reports and photos showed Friday.
The North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the “National Defense Development-2024″ exhibition opened in Pyongyang the previous day, showcasing the country’s “increased power and great leap forward.”
The exhibition brought together the latest defense products in strategic and tactical weaponry, updated and developed to align with modern characters, the KCNA said.
It follows the “Weaponry Exhibition-2023,” which North Korea hosted in July last year with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in attendance, marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice.
This year’s exhibition featured a wide spectrum of weaponry, ranking from rifles and tanks to a space projectile for launching reconnaissance satellites, according to photos released by the KCNA.
Items on display included the Chollima-1 rocket, which was used to launch the Malligyong-1 spy satellite into orbit in November last year, a presentation seen as suggesting the possibility of the Chollima being used as an ICBM if equipped with a warhead instead of a satellite.
Two latest, solid-fuel ICBMs — the Hwasong-19, first test-fired last month, and the Hwasong-18, unveiled last year — were also on display, along with other solid-fuel missiles, including the intermediate-range hypersonic Hwasong-16.
This demonstrates that the country’s liquid fuel missiles are giving way to solid fuel counterparts, which require less preparation time, making it harder for adversaries to detect their launch.
Other notable items included a line of drones, including the Saetbyol-9, known as the North Korean version of the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper, as well as suicide bombing drones, for which North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has recently ordered mass production. Including them, at least six types of small unmanned aerial vehicles were identified in photos of the exhibition.
Also presented was a 240 mm multiple rocket launcher, following confirmation by the South Korean spy agency earlier this week that North Korea is assessed to have expanded its arms exports to Russia to include 240 mm multiple rocket launchers and other long-range artillery.
No new weapon systems appear to have been unveiled at the exhibition, but experts suggested that North Korea may be signaling to the world through the display that these weapons could be provided to Russia at any time.
It could also signal Pyongyang’s intention to dash any prospects for dialogue with the incoming Donald Trump administration by demonstrating its commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities, according to experts.
During a speech given at the opening ceremony, the North Korean leader said the country had “already gone to every length in negotiations with the U.S., and what was certain from the outcome was … the unchanging invasive and hostile policy toward North Korea,” the KCNA reported.
(Yonhap)
