CaliToday (13/10/2025): In a significant display of its evolving military capabilities, North Korea has unveiled a new multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) that bears a striking resemblance to the U.S.-made M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). The previously unseen platform was a centerpiece in a recent military parade held in Pyongyang, signaling a new direction in the nation's artillery development.
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| KNCA pic |
A convoy of the new, as-yet-unnamed systems rolled through the streets of the capital, showcasing what analysts describe as a clear evolution towards mobile, precision-strike capabilities inspired by Western military design. This development marks a noteworthy addition to North Korea's already extensive artillery arsenal.
Visually, the new launcher incorporates several key features synonymous with the HIMARS concept, including an armored forward cabin to protect the crew and a self-loading mechanism. This indicates a growing emphasis within North Korea's defense sector on developing modular and highly mobile artillery platforms suitable for rapid deployment and reloading in battlefield scenarios.
The design philosophy mirrors that of its American and South Korean counterparts, featuring a pod-based ammunition system that allows for independent and swift reloading in the field. This capability enables sustained fire missions without the need for heavy, external support vehicles for reloading—a tactical advantage that has made systems like the HIMARS and South Korea's K239 Chunmoo highly effective in modern warfare.
However, the new North Korean system diverges from the American model in one crucial aspect. Unlike the HIMARS, which is equipped with a single pod of six launch tubes, the North Korean variant features two launch blocks, each containing nine tubes. This dual-pod configuration, more akin to the South Korean K239 or the larger tracked M270 MLRS, could potentially double the launcher's firepower in a single mission.
Despite its public debut, official performance specifications for the new system remain under wraps. The parade offered no details regarding the rockets' range, payload capacity, or the type of guidance technology employed. This leaves analysts to speculate based on its physical configuration. The system's armored cab, modular launch containers, and self-loading design strongly suggest that Pyongyang's engineers are actively pursuing a model of rapid, mobile, and precise firepower—a trend increasingly prevalent in advanced rocket artillery systems worldwide.
