North Korea could conduct one or two more weapon launch tests toward the end of the military’s training period in September, a high-ranking source in the country told Daily NK on Wednesday.
The source disclosed this information after North Korea’s recent test of multiple rocket launcher (MRL) rounds into the Yellow Sea.
On July 10, North Korea fired two MRL rounds into the Yellow Sea from South Pyongan Province. Though the tested rockets were shorter in range than those of the KN-25 “super-large caliber” MRL system, they are still dangerous conventional weapons that can threaten Seoul and the greater Seoul area.
North Korean military authorities have reportedly stressed that the test is a follow-up measure to decisions made at the recently convened Third Enlarged Meeting of the Eighth Central Military Commission.
The Rodong Sinmun and other North Korean media reported that the June 24 meeting supplemented the operation duties of frontline military units, examined and approved “an important issue of providing a military guarantee for further strengthening the country’s war deterrent,” and ratified a “plan for reorganization of military organizational formations.”
A Daily NK investigation found that North Korean military authorities discussed during the meeting a plan to incorporate short range ballistic missiles and some Strategic Force personnel into First Corps, Second Corps, Fourth Corps and Fifth Corps, all frontline units.
This suggests the authorities intend to boost the offensive power of frontline units to hit major facilities in South Korea and US military bases in the country by deploying short range ballistic missiles ahead of the development of small-scale nuclear warheads.
North Korean military authorities also decided during the meeting to reorganize existing conventional weapon formations to allow ground force corps to operate short range ballistic missiles.
Daily NK’s source said the latest MRL test took place during this reorganization, which includes battlefield deployments of weapons to attack South Korea with frontline units.
At its heart, North Korea’s decision to reorganize its weapon deployments aims to neutralize South Korean and US defenses through the simultaneous use of strategic weapons and conventional weapons while bolstering Pyongyang’s ability to attack the South at any time.
In particular, North Korea reportedly took into consideration the imminent start of joint US-South Korean military drills in deciding the timing of the latest test launch.
North Korean military authorities usually test weapons just as winter or summer drills conclude. This time, however, the order came down just 10 days into the summer exercises, something even North Korean military personnel found odd.
Inside the North Korean military, soldiers say political considerations were at work during the multiple rocket launcher test.
The source told Daily NK that it is “standard procedure” to conduct launch tests at the end of exercises.
“This time, however, there was also consideration of the political situation,” he said, adding, “As the weaponry formations have changed, there could be more launch tests before the summer exercises end.”
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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