On January 28, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the DPRK had conducted a test launch of an upgraded large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system. The test launches of four rockets were conducted under the guidance of the North Korean leader.
The Nitty-Gritty of the Launch
North Korea’s KN-25 multiple rocket launcher systems, with a caliber of 600 millimetres, have a maximum firing range of 400 km. This places all the key South Korean military bases within their reach. And as noted by Professor Lim Eul-chul of the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University, they are capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons.
Kim Jong Un was accompanied by Kim Jong-sik, Deputy Director of the WPK Central Committee Department, and Jang Chang Ha, head of the DPRK’s Missile General Bureau, as well as the daughter of the DPRK’s supreme leader.
The previous North Korean missile launch took place on January 4.
Kim Jong Un’s Speech
The DPRK leader was satisfied and stated, “Today’s test is of great significance in enhancing the effectiveness of strategic deterrence. This is explained by the technical upgrade for the most successful and efficient use of the powerful features of this weapon system. Consequently, it is suitable for use in special attacks.”
He particularly praised the mobility of the modified artillery tractor and the mobility, intelligence, and accuracy of the rocket. He also emphasized that the self-guided high-precision flight system, which allows it to ignore any external interference, is an important feature demonstrating the superiority of this weapon system.
South Korean experts suggested that the autonomous precision guidance system mentioned by Kim could indicate a new navigation system used to help the weapon counter GPS jamming. And they couldn’t but detect a Russian trace. Shin Jong-woo, a researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, said that it was possible that “a military-grade GPS system provided by Russia was integrated,” adding that such systems are immune to jamming.
Kim Jong Un also said that plans for the next stage to further strengthen nuclear deterrence forces would be outlined at the upcoming 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea. The upcoming congress is scheduled for February 2026 and will set the main directions for the DPRK’s defense, diplomatic, and economic policies for the next five-year period.
Standard Reactions
Western and ROK experts pointed to several reasons for the launch on these dates, beyond the likely military-technical necessity. First, the launch occurred just in a trice after US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby had concluded his three-day visit to South Korea. This followed last week’s Pentagon publication of the new US defense strategy, which assessed North Korea as posing a “direct military threat” to South Korea and Japan, with North Korea’s nuclear forces representing a “clear and present” threat of a nuclear attack on US territory.
Second, Military Strength Ranking published the latest Global Firepower rating, in which South Korea ranked fifth in the world in military strength, behind the US, Russia, China, and India. The DPRK ranked 31st, rising three positions compared to 2024. Thus, Pyongyang reversed the trend of recent years towards weakening its conventional military potential. It wound up 18th in 2019, 36th in 2024, and 34th in 2025.
The US National Security Council condemned North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and called on Pyongyang to immediately cease its provocations.
The ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated, “Our military maintains firm readiness while closely sharing information about the North Korean ballistic missiles with the US and Japanese sides, amid strengthened monitoring for additional launches.”
US Forces deployed in Korea stated, “The event does not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or that of our allies. The United States remains committed to protecting the US homeland and our allies in the region.”
The Launch in Terms of the DPRK’s Military Development Successes in 2025
To conclude the discussion of the launch, it is worth recalling where it is positioned in terms of the development of military construction in the DPRK throughout the past year.
During the course of 2025, North Korea continued to actively engage in building its military potential. A visible demonstration of the achieved successes was the arms exhibition and military parade held in Pyongyang in the fall, timed to the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea. On both occasions, the DPRK’s defense industry presented a sufficient set of military innovations. The most notable among these was the solid-fuel ballistic missile “Hwasong-20,” capable, like earlier variants, of striking the entire continental United States.
Furthermore, several short- and medium-range missiles received a hypersonic glide vehicle. This essentially nullifies the air defense capabilities of adjacent unfriendly countries—the flight time of a hypersonic missile from Pyongyang to Seoul is about one minute. In this time, an opponent is unable to take action to intercept the missile, at least for reasons related to military bureaucracy.
Throughout the year, Kim Jong Un continually visited military facilities, both defense plants and corresponding research institutes, inspiring scientists and defense industry workers to carry out their work effectively in their field. In his speeches, Kim kept reiterating that in the current political situation, one should not rest on their laurels, for the DPRK’s adversaries are not reducing the intensity of military preparations, accelerating the arms race on their side.
North Korea is closely monitoring trends in the revolution in military affairs. This explains its great attention to UAVs of various types and ranges. Judging by appearances, they have long been actively supplied to the troops. At the parade on October 10, 2025, kamikaze drones were demonstrated, configured six per launcher. Their design appears to show the influence of Chinese and/or Israeli analogues.
Apart from the missile-nuclear sector, in 2025, North Korea started actively bringing areas of military construction that previously did not receive special attention from the leadership up to world standards. For instance, until now, the North Korean Navy, despite its impressive numbers, rather corresponded to what could be described as a “mosquito fleet.” Most submarines were de facto semi-submersible and could be used mainly for sabotage operations. This year, North Korea built a submarine capable of carrying ballistic missiles, along with two destroyers, quite modern ones. It is characteristic that the destroyers were built simultaneously at two shipyards. Although the launch of one of them was marred by an accident, the North Koreans were able to independently eliminate its consequences and commission the ship in a short time.
It can be stated that the task of military construction set at the WPK Congress in 2021 has been largely accomplished. At the beginning of 2026, we can expect a further intensification of military construction. The launch we wrote about is the first step on a long path.
Konstantin Asmolov, PhD in History, Leading Research Fellow at the Centre for Korean Studies, Institute of China and Contemporary Asia, Russian Academy of Sciences
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