North Korea says it will deploy new artillery guns targeting Seoul
World North Korea says it will deploy new artillery guns targeting Seoul May 8, 20261:04 AM ET By The Associated Press In this photo provided on May 8, 2026, by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un,...
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Key developments are emerging from the global stage. World North Korea says it will deploy new artillery guns targeting Seoul May 8, 20261:04 AM ET By The Associated Press In this photo provided on May 8, 2026, by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un, center, visits the destroyer Choe Hyon to review its maneuverability off North Korea's west coast, Thursday, May 7, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified.
Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/via AP hide caption toggle caption Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/via AP SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Friday it will deploy new long-range artillery systems this year that are capable of striking South Korea's capital region and will commission its first naval destroyer in coming weeks. The announcement comes days after South Korea said North Korea's newly revised constitution drops all references to Korean unification, in line with leader Kim Jong Un's vows to terminate ties with South Korea and establish a two-state system on the Korean Peninsula.
The Details
Kim visited a munitions factory Wednesday to inspect the production of 155-mm self-propelled gun-howitzers to be deployed at an artillery unit in the southern border area within this year, the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported. Sponsor Message KCNA cited Kim as saying the striking range of this large-caliber rifled gun is over 60 kilometers (37 miles). He said that "such a rapid extension of striking range and remarkable improvement of striking capability will provide a great change and advantage in the land operations of our army," according to KCNA.
Kim said various operational and tactical missile systems and powerful multiple rocket launcher systems are also scheduled to be deployed along the border. North Korea's artillery systems draw less outside attention than its ballistic missiles whose launches are banned under U. Security Council resolutions.
But the country already deploys many artillery guns near the border with South Korea, posing a serious threat to Seoul, the South Korean capital that has 10 million people and is about 40 to 50 kilometers (25 to 30 miles) from the border. KCNA said Kim on Thursday rode on the destroyer Choe Hyon to review its maneuverability off North Korea's west coast. Kim ordered authorities to hand over the ship to the navy in mid-June as scheduled, after appreciating the all the tests for the destroyer's operational commissioning progressed smoothly, according to KCNA.
KCNA photos showed Kim's teenage daughter on the destroyer as well, in the latest public activity with her father.
The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.
