Hello and welcome to the details of North Korea tests 600mm nuclear‑capable launchers, Kim says strike range meant to unsettle enemies and now with the details
Nevin Al Sukari - Sana'a - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae, oversees the test-launch of 600 mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers, North Korea, March 14, 2026, in this picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. — Korean Central News Agency pic via Reuters
SEOUL, March 15 — North Korea tested nuclear-capable rocket launchers, state media reported today, a day after Seoul detected the launch of around 10 ballistic missiles.
The test comes after South Korean and US forces kicked off their springtime military drills, due to run until March 19.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the testing yesterday of the multiple rocket launcher system (MRLS), the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
It said the test involved 12 600mm-calibre ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers and two artillery companies.
Kim said the drill gave Pyongyang’s enemies, within the 420 kilometres striking range, a sense of “uneasiness” and “a deep understanding of the destructive power of tactical nuclear weapon”, KCNA reported.
The rockets battered an island target in the East Sea of Korea more than 360 km away, KCNA said today.
Kim praised the MRLS as a “very deadly yet attractive weapon”.
Photos released by state media showed several rockets blasting off large vehicles into the air.
Another picture shows Kim and his daughter Ju Ae watching the launch from afar, flanked by a military official.
Ju Ae has long been seen as next in line to rule the country, a perception stoked by a string of recent high-profile outings.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it had detected multiple launches on Saturday from the North into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.
Seoul’s presidential Blue House condemned the launches as a “provocation that violates United Nations Security Council resolutions” and urged Pyongyang to immediately stop such acts.
The launches came hours after South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said that US President Donald Trump thinks a meeting with Pyongyang’s Kim would be “good”.
The Trump administration has pushed in recent months to revive high-level talks with Pyongyang, eyeing a possible summit with Kim this year, potentially during Trump’s visit to Beijing set for late March.
After largely ignoring these overtures, Kim said recently that the two nations could “get along” if Washington accepted Pyongyang’s nuclear status.
A test-launch of 600 mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers is overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (not pictured), North Korea, March 14, 2026, in this picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. — Korean Central News Agency pic via Reuters
Joint drills
The US and South Korea’s springtime military drills, dubbed “Freedom Shield”, will involve about 18,000 Korean troops and run until March 19.
Kim’s comment on the rockets suggested it was in response to the ongoing exercise, Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP.
“The launch pattern... is closely synchronised with the schedule” of the joint drills, he said.
“This suggests the weapons system is being operated as a means of nuclear deterrence and practical demonstration” against the alliance.
This week, Kim Yo Jong, a powerful confidante of her brother Kim Jong Un, said the joint drills “may cause unimaginably terrible consequences”.
She went on to say the drills were taking place at “a critical time when global security structure is collapsing rapidly and wars break out in different parts of the world”.
Pyongyang has condemned the US-Israeli attack on Iran as an “illegal act of aggression”, claiming it shows the “rogue” nature of the United States.
North Korea also recently carried out missile tests from the naval Choe Hyon destroyer, claiming the country was in the process of “arming the Navy with nuclear weapons”. — AFP
These were the details of the news North Korea tests 600mm nuclear‑capable launchers, Kim says strike range meant to unsettle enemies for this day. We hope that we have succeeded by giving you the full details and information. To follow all our news, you can subscribe to the alerts system or to one of our different systems to provide you with all that is new.
It is also worth noting that the original news has been published and is available at Malay Mail and the editorial team at AlKhaleej Today has confirmed it and it has been modified, and it may have been completely transferred or quoted from it and you can read and follow this news from its main source.
