Kim Jong-un Praises North Korea-Made 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer, Can it Reach Seoul?

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a review of a combat vehicle production facility. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - North Korea has reportedly developed self-propelled howitzers (self-propelled howitzers) capable of attacking Seoul and the wider capital region, raising concerns that Pyongyang is increasing its long-range artillery threat.

North Korea's official Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported on Friday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a major munitions factory on Wednesday to review a new weapons system.

The system includes self-propelled artillery equipped with 155-millimeter cannons, which are comparable in caliber to South Korea's K9 howitzers, but reportedly have a range of more than 60 kilometers, while the K9 has a range of about 40 kilometers, The Korea Times reported (8/5).

Rodong Sinmun, reported that Leader Kim described the country's 155-millimeter self-propelled artillery as "a new generation of artillery weapons with very high mobility and firepower."

Leader Kim said the system would be deployed this year to three battalions along the southern border.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a review of a combat vehicle production facility. (Source: KCNA)

Defense experts say that if North Korea's claims about developing a system with a range exceeding 60 kilometers are accurate, Seoul will be within striking range.

"It seems that North Korea is improving the barrel and ammunition of its self-propelled howitzer to expand its range to about three times that of the existing version," said Shin Jong-woo, secretary-general of the South Korean Defense and Security Forum.

He was referring to the country's 152-millimeter self-propelled artillery, which is known to have a range of only about 20 kilometers.

"The newer version seems to be developed into a long-range artillery capable of attacking Seoul and the wider metropolitan area," Shin explained.

He also noted that the 155-millimeter version would join the 240-millimeter multi-barrel rocket launcher deployed on the front line, saying, "If the new self-propelled howitzer is deployed in the front-line unit, North Korea will effectively add another weapon capable of attacking the Seoul metropolitan area without having to change its firing position."

Meanwhile, a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official said the JCS was "closely monitoring the trend of North Korea's weapons development."

Leader Kim stressed that this year will "record an unprecedented increase in the struggle to strengthen the country's national defense capabilities," according to Rodong Sinmun.

Therefore, he urged cadres to "achieve significant success every day" through intensive efforts to strengthen military readiness.