North Korea says it will deploy new artillery guns targeting Seoul and commission its 1st destroyer
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- North Korea announced plans to deploy new long-range artillery systems capable of striking Seoul and to commission its first naval destroyer, the Choe Hyon, by mid-June 2024.
- Leader Kim Jong Un inspected the production of 155-mm self-propelled gun-howitzers with a striking range over 37 miles, along with other missile and rocket launcher systems to be deployed near the southern border.
- The new North Korean constitution removes references to Korean unification, signaling a shift towards a two-state system and reflecting Kim's hard-line stance against South Korea.
- Kim’s daughter was publicly seen aboard the destroyer during recent inspections, with South Korean intelligence suggesting she could be Kim’s heir.
- North Korea continues to reject dialogue with South Korea and the U.S., focusing instead on expanding its nuclear and missile capabilities following the collapse of nuclear diplomacy in 2019.
