Top leader of DPRK oversees key weapon tests

PYONGYANG — Kim Jong-un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, has overseen weapon tests involving a lightweight multipurpose missile launching system and a multiple tactical cruise missile weapon system, the official Korean Central News Agency said on Wednesday.

The tests were conducted on Tuesday by the Missile Administration and the Academy of Defence Sciences. They analyzed and estimated the power of a special mission warhead of a tactical ballistic missile, the reliability of a 240mm controlled artillery rocket with an expanded firing range and an ultraprecision autonomous navigation system, and the AI-guided hit accuracy of a tactical cruise missile, said the report.

The tactical cruising shell features a combination of the ultraprecision autonomous navigation system, the terrain contour matching, or TERCOM, navigation system and an AI terminal guidance function. It is a powerful weapon system that can make an ultraprecision strike against any target 100 kilometers away by multimodal flight based on gliding and propelling, it said.

Kim said the tests were a clear signal of an upgrade of the country's military force and showed great technical progress in the strengthening of its combat power, according to the report.

The leader also outlined tasks for stepping up the steady growth of the country's defense capabilities and developing ultramodern military hardware.

Xinhua