North Korea Tests 12 KN-25 600mm Ultra-Precision Rocket Launchers in New Long-Range Strike Drill.

North Korea confirmed that twelve KN-25 600mm “ultra-precision” multiple rocket launch systems were used during its latest military test drill. The exercise highlights Pyongyang’s continued efforts to expand long-range precision-strike capabilities within its rocket artillery forces.

North Korea has confirmed it deployed twelve KN-25 600mm multiple rocket launch systems during its latest military drill. This marks one of the largest publicly acknowledged uses of the system in a single exercise. North Korea often describes the KN-25 as an "ultra-large caliber" precision rocket launcher. Its size and range blur the line between traditional MLRS artillery and short-range ballistic missile systems. Analysts see the system as a key piece of North Korea’s evolving precision strike doctrine, intended to threaten regional airbases, missile defenses, and command infrastructure.

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A North Korean KN-25 fires a 600 mm rocket during a military drill, demonstrating a long-range precision strike system designed to threaten regional airbases and military infrastructure. (Picture source: North Korea press agency)

The information was released by defense analyst Joseph Dempsey in a March 15, 2026, post on X, noting Pyongyang’s confirmation of the systems’ participation. The reported drill underscores the growing operational role of the KN-25 super-large-caliber rocket artillery system, which has emerged as one of the most powerful ground-launched strike platforms in the Korean People’s Army (KPA) arsenal. Although officially described by North Korea as a multiple rocket launcher, the KN-25’s range, trajectory, and guidance characteristics place it closer to a quasi-ballistic precision strike weapon, bridging the gap between conventional rocket artillery and short-range ballistic missiles.

The use of 12 launchers in a single drill suggests a coordinated, large-scale firing capability designed to deliver massive, rapid, long-range fires. Depending on launcher configuration, each KN-25 vehicle can carry four to six large-caliber rockets, meaning that a formation of 12 launchers could potentially deliver dozens of guided rockets in a single salvo. Such concentrated firepower could be used to overwhelm missile defense systems or rapidly neutralize high-value targets such as air bases, radar sites, command facilities, or missile defense batteries.

The KN-25 was first publicly revealed in 2019. It quickly drew attention from defense analysts due to its very large 600mm rocket caliber. That makes it one of the largest guided rocket artillery systems in operational service. The weapon is mounted on a mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) platform. This enables rapid deployment, launch, and relocation, reducing vulnerability to counter-battery fire or pre-emptive strikes.

The KN-25 rockets are believed to follow a quasi-ballistic trajectory and are equipped with guidance systems designed to improve strike accuracy over long distances. Estimates from open-source defense analysis indicate that the system may have an operational range of approximately 350-380 km, depending on the rocket variant used. This range would allow North Korean forces to strike targets across most of the Korean Peninsula from launch positions located well inside North Korean territory.

The KN-25 system forms part of a broader modernization effort within North Korea’s tactical missile and rocket forces. Over the past several years, Pyongyang has introduced several new precision-strike platforms, including the KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles, which are widely believed to be designed to penetrate or complicate interception by missile defense systems such as the Patriot and THAAD deployed by South Korea and the United States.

Within this evolving arsenal, the KN-25 provides the KPA with a high-volume, precision-strike capability that complements ballistic missile forces while remaining technically categorized as rocket artillery. This classification may offer operational advantages, as rocket artillery units can potentially conduct rapid salvos and reposition quickly while maintaining sustained fire capability.

The demonstration of twelve launchers in a single drill also reflects North Korea’s emphasis on mass fires and saturation attacks as a method of countering advanced air and missile defense networks deployed by regional adversaries. By launching multiple precision rockets simultaneously, North Korean forces could attempt to overwhelm interceptors and ensure that at least some warheads reach their intended targets.

Strategically, the KN-25 plays a key role in North Korea’s broader deterrence posture on the Korean Peninsula. The system’s extended range allows it to threaten a wide range of South Korean military installations, including major air bases, logistics hubs, and command centers, as well as facilities hosting U.S. forces stationed in the region. The ability to conduct rapid, coordinated strikes using mobile launchers further complicates detection and pre-emptive targeting efforts.

The latest KN-25 drill, therefore, serves both operational and signaling purposes. Operationally, it allows the Korean People’s Army to refine coordinated firing procedures and evaluate the readiness of its rocket artillery units. Strategically, it demonstrates the continued expansion of North Korea’s long-range precision strike capabilities, reinforcing Pyongyang’s ability to threaten regional military infrastructure in the event of conflict.

As North Korea continues to develop new missile and rocket systems, platforms such as the KN-25 super-large caliber multiple rocket launcher are likely to remain a central component of the country’s evolving strike doctrine, combining mobility, range, and concentrated firepower to support its broader military deterrence strategy.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.