North Korea "Successful Test-Firing of Super-Large Multiple Rocket Launcher"... Kim Jong-un Absent (Comprehensive)

Report on Launch Vehicle Launch on the 29th
"Defending the Party and Revolution with Invincible Military Power"
Kim Jong-un Absent, Appears Conscious of International Criticism

North Korea conducted a test firing of a super-large multiple rocket launcher on the 29th, Chosun Central News Agency reported on the 30th.

North Korea announced on the 30th that it successfully conducted a test firing of a super-large multiple rocket launcher on the 29th.

The North Korean state media, Korean Central News Agency, reported on the day, "The National Defense Science Institute conducted a test firing on March 29 with the purpose of reconfirming the tactical and technical characteristics of the super-large multiple rocket launcher being delivered to the Korean People's Army units." It added, "The test firing was successfully carried out."

However, it did not disclose whether Chairman Kim Jong Un was present. North Korea has conducted four short-range projectile launches this year, and this is the first time Kim did not attend. It is evaluated that Kim refrained from direct observation to moderate the level of provocation, being mindful of international concerns and criticism regarding projectile launches.

On the same day, the Workers' Party organ newspaper Rodong Sinmun also moderated the tone by publishing photos of the weapon launch and images presumed to show the target being hit on page 3.

On the 30th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that North Korea conducted a test firing of a super-large multiple rocket launcher on the 29th.

The news agency reported that instead of Chairman Kim, "Ri Pyong Chol, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee in charge of military affairs, along with officials from the Party Central Committee's Military Industry Department and defense science research sector officials such as Jang Chang Ha and Jeon Il Ho, guided the event."

Vice Chairman Ri emphasized, "The deployment of the super-large multiple rocket launcher weapon system is a significant project that realizes the Party Central Committee's new strategic intention related to national defense," suggesting that North Korea is accelerating the operational deployment of the weapons it is developing.

At the event, Vice Chairman Ri stated, "The defense science research sector and the military labor force must intensify their relentless struggle to continuously achieve the core defense science research goals and major weapon production plans set by the Party Central Committee, and protect the Party and the revolution with an invincible military force."

Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced, "Our military detected two projectiles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Wonsan area toward the northeast East Sea at around 6:10 a.m. on the 29th." The projectiles were detected flying approximately 230 km with an altitude of about 30 km.

At 7 a.m., immediately after the launch, an emergency countermeasure meeting was held via video conference, chaired by National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong, with Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon attending.

South Korean military and government officials, considering the altitude and flight distance, reportedly leaned toward the possibility that the launch was of a "super-large multiple rocket launcher," which North Korea confirmed on the day.

Kim Yo-jong, the first deputy director of the Workers' Party and younger sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, expressed shock at the Blue House's concerns over North Korea's joint strike drills, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 3rd.

In a statement titled "Expressing Shock at the Blue House's Incompetent Way of Thinking" released that night, Kim Yo-jong referred to the People's Army's frontline long-range artillery unit's firepower combat training conducted the previous day, saying, "We did not conduct the training to threaten anyone," emphasizing that it was carried out from a self-defensive perspective.

Meanwhile, North Korea has recently reiterated that its military exercises are conducted in opposition to South Korea and the U.S. and are indispensable for national defense.

On the same day, North Korea's external propaganda outlet Uriminzokkiri published an article titled "Shameless Outrage of the Guilty," claiming, "The main culprits driving the situation on the Korean Peninsula toward heightened tension are the warmongering forces in South Korea who, along with foreign powers, frantically cling to aggressive war exercises and military buildup."

Kim Yo Jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, released a debut statement titled "Expressing Shock at the Blue House's Stupid Mindset" on the 3rd, emphasizing that the People's Army's frontline long-range artillery unit's firepower combat training held the previous day was a self-defensive measure, while harshly criticizing the Blue House for expressing strong concerns.

She showed a nervous reaction, saying, "We are the ones who should express 'strong regret' at the Blue House's illogical and stupid mindset that concludes with the logic that we must conduct military exercises but you must not."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.