North Korea Deploys 250 Missile Launchers to Southern Border

North Korea has deployed 250 ballistic missile launchers to its southern border, with leader Kim Jong Un describing the weapons as a 'powerful treasured sword' to defend its sovereignty, state media reported on Monday. The olive green mobile launchers were displayed during a special 'transferring' ceremony in the capital, Pyongyang, on Sunday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim Jong Un described the missile launchers as an 'up-to-date tactical attack weapon' in his speech at the event. This marks the first time North Korea has publicly revealed the scale of an arms transfer to its border units. Han Kwon-hee, from the Korea Association of Defence Industry Studies, noted that each launcher was designed to hold four missiles. He also speculated that North Korea’s supply of arms to Moscow might have 'interfered with the North’s capacity to actually produce 1,000 missiles.' Relations between North and South Korea have reached one of their lowest points in years. The North has increased weapons testing and launched balloons filled with trash into the South, while South Korea has responded by resuming propaganda broadcasts along the border, suspending a tension-reducing military deal, and conducting live-fire drills near the border. This year, Pyongyang declared South Korea its 'principal enemy,' dissolved agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over 'even 0.001 mm' of territorial infringement.

Kim emphasized that the deployment of these new weapons, despite recent flood damage, demonstrated the 'firm will of our Party to push ahead with the bolstering of defense capabilities.' The country experienced heavy rainfall in late July, particularly affecting its northern regions. A South Korean media report claimed that up to 1,500 people might have died due to the floods. However, Kim dismissed these reports as a 'smear campaign' and stated that there were no casualties in the Sinuiju area, which North Korea had identified as suffering the 'greatest flood damage.' The North Korean Air Force reportedly rescued over 5,000 people, with around 4,200 being saved by helicopter 'within a few hours.' Kim also noted a 'significant and strategic shift' due to the transformation of US-led alliances into nuclear-based military blocs, suggesting a need for an upgrade in the country's war deterrence capabilities. 'The strength of our armed forces… must continue to accelerate,' Kim stated, according to a KCNA transcript. Photos released by KCNA showed rows of mobile launchers in front of a podium where Kim spoke, with banners from a balloon decorated with the North Korean flag, stating: 'Let’s open the golden age of defense industry development under the leadership of the great comrade Kim!'

While it is possible that North Korea had previously deployed ballistic missile launchers to its southern border, Han noted that this was the first time he had 'seen such official reports detailing the scale of arms transfers' to military units in the area.