north korea Tactical ballistic missiles, rocket launchers and artificial intelligence-guided precision cruise missiles designed for modern warfare were tested on Wednesday, the Korean Central News Agency reported.The test came a day after South Korea’s military said it detected the launch of multiple projectiles, including a ballistic missile. According to reports, the shells flew about 80 kilometers before falling into the Yellow Sea.KCNA said the launch was to evaluate the power of “special mission warheads” installed on tactical ballistic missiles, the reliability of long-range multiple rocket launchers and the accuracy of artificial intelligence-guided tactical cruise missiles.According to state agencies, North Korean leaders Kim Jong Un “These tests particularly confirm the combat readiness of the cruise missiles, which will be deployed by artillery units near the South Korean border and are equipped with precision navigation and artificial intelligence guidance control and can strike targets 100 kilometers (62 miles) away,” he said.He added: “Having enough destructive power to make any encounter theoretically unsurvivable is a necessary condition for our military’s operations.”Analysts said the latest test showed Pyongyang intends to strengthen its precision strike capabilities below the nuclear threshold.“With the latest launch, Pyongyang has shown that it intends to deploy this weapon system in the event of war,” said Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul. “It highlights the precision, long-range, automated conventional firepower that can overwhelm South Korea even below its nuclear threshold,” he added.Hong said North Korea’s statement could be referring to an upgraded version of its existing digital guidance system that integrates automatic target recognition technology. The weapon system reportedly combines tactical cruise missiles, guided multiple launch rocket systems and tactical ballistic missiles into a precision strike complex.According to Reuters, North Korea has been supplying ballistic missiles and rocket launchers to Russia since late 2023, and Moscow is believed to have used these weapons in the war in Ukraine. Analysts believe that the battlefield use of these weapons provides Pyongyang with valuable combat data for improving its missile arsenal.In April, Pyongyang conducted its eighth weapons test of the year to “verify the characteristics and power of cluster bomb warheads,” state media reported at the time.
