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North Korea Tests Upgraded Monster KN-25 Rocket That Blurs the Line Between Artillery and Missiles
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
North Korea has conducted a test of an upgraded version of its 600-millimeter multiple launch rocket system known as the KN-25, according to a report published by KCNA Watch on January 27.
The state news agency said the system is capable of launching rockets equipped with either conventional or nuclear warheads.
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Official images released alongside the announcement showed a redesigned launcher that differs noticeably from earlier KN-25 configurations.
According to the report, four rockets were fired during the test, striking a target at a distance of 358.5 kilometers from the launch site.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commented publicly on the test, describing the upgrade as a significant technical step forward.
“A technical upgrade has been achieved to make the most effective use of the most powerful characteristics of this weapon system. Accordingly, it is suitable for use in special attacks,” Kim said.
The KN-25 is now the second North Korean missile or rocket system recently reported to have undergone testing with a newly developed navigation and guidance package designed to resist external interference, according to KCNA.
North Korea has released footage showing the recent "show-of-force," which involved a salvo launch of 18 missiles from KN-25s. pic.twitter.com/WskBA6epoB
— GMI (@Global_Mil_Info) May 31, 2024
In 2024, the heavy rocket system was fitted with a new wheeled chassis resembling that used by North Korea’s KN-23 short-range ballistic missile, further blurring the line between traditional rocket artillery and missile platforms.
The KN-25 stands out for its unusual 600-millimeter caliber and rocket length of roughly eight meters, making it the largest system of its kind currently known to be in service worldwide.
Individual rockets are estimated to weigh close to three metric tons, a size that brings their performance closer to that of short-range ballistic missiles rather than conventional artillery rockets.
While the system is typically shown with a conventional high-explosive warhead, North Korea’s government stated in October 2022 that the KN-25 is among the platforms capable of carrying a tactical nuclear payload, significantly raising concerns about its potential role in future conflict scenarios on the Korean Peninsula.
Earlier, Ukrainian unmanned aerial units destroyed a North Korean–made M-1991 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) in Russian-occupied territory.
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
