North Korea "Fired 2 Surface-to-Surface Missiles Yesterday... Thoroughly Eliminating Enemy Infiltration Capability" (Comprehensive)

North Missile Unit Commander: "If We Fight, the Enemy Will Be Annihilated"
Opposition to ROK-US Drills... Submarine Missile Also on the 12th

North Korea disclosed on the 14th that it fired two surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missiles in the area of Jangyeon County, South Hwanghae Province. Following the launch of two cruise missiles from a submarine at sea for the first time on the 12th, a day before the start of the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises, North Korea continues its provocations.

On the 15th, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, "The Korean People's Army missile unit, responsible for important operational missions on the western front, conducted a missile demonstration firing drill on March 14 for unit training," adding, "The 11th Fire Assault Company under the military unit participated in the training," and "two surface-to-surface (surface-to-surface) tactical ballistic missiles were fired in a medium-range system for educational demonstration."

North Korea "Missile firing drill yesterday... Fired 2 surface-to-surface ballistic missiles from Jangyeon" [Image source=Yonhap News]

Photos released by the North appear to show the KN-23, known as the 'North Korean version of Iskander,' launched from a wheeled transporter erector launcher (TEL). The mention of a 'medium-range system' for the demonstration firing is analyzed to mean that the missiles were launched with adjusted ranges. The report also explained that commanders and combatants from each unit under the military unit observed the demonstration firing training.

The report continued, "The missiles launched from the area of Jangyeon County, South Hwanghae Province, precisely struck the target island Pido in front of Bangjin-dong, Cheongam District, Chongjin City, North Hamgyong Province, located 611.4 km away." The military unit commander responsible for the missile training stated, "If we fight, we will surely annihilate the enemy," emphasizing, "We will thoroughly equip ourselves with the capability to smoothly carry out any fire assault mission at any moment by fully upholding the Party's training revolution policy."

North Korea's demonstration firing training appears to be a response to the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise 'Freedom Shield (FS).' Following the launch of two cruise missiles from a submarine at sea for the first time on the 12th, a day before the joint exercises began, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea from the area of Jangyeon, South Hwanghae Province, the day before.

Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced the previous day, "From around 7:41 a.m. to 7:51 a.m., we detected two short-range ballistic missiles launched by North Korea from the area of Jangyeon County, South Hwanghae Province, into the East Sea." The South Korea-U.S. joint exercises, which began on the 13th, will last 11 days and include more than 20 field training exercises to check the joint defense posture and strengthen the response capabilities of the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

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