North Korea has conducted live fires with rocket launchers and ballistic missiles.

According to a statement released on Sunday, May 5, 2019, by the KNCA, North Korean Central News Agency, North Korea armed forces have conducted military exercise using MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and tactical guided missile into the East Sea. The pictures released by KNCA show M-1991 240mm rocket launchers and short-range ballistic missile similar to the Russian-made Iskander.

North Korean armed forces conduct live firing exercise with tactical missile and multiple launch rocket systems into the East Sea in North Korea, May 4, 2019 (Picture source North Korean Central News Agency)

The M1991 is a 240mm MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) developed by the North Korean defense industry. It was shown for the first time in 1991 during a military parade.

The M1191 has 22 launching tubes and fires rockets of 240mm caliber. It can fire a wide range of rockets including HE-FRAG, smoke, incendiary and chemical. A standard HE-FRAG warhead weights 90 kg and contains 45 kg of explosives. According to military sources, it has a maximum firing range of 43 km. The rocket launcher system of the M1991 is mounted on a 6x6 truck chassis.

The ballistic missile showed on the pictures seems to be a copy of the Russian-made Iskander which was shown for the first time during a military parade held in Pyongyang on February 8, 2018, to mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People’s Army.

At the military parade of February 8, 2018, North Korea has unveiled a new type of mobile ballistic missile mounted on an 8x8 military truck chassis which is used as TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher).

The size and external features of the new North Korean mobile tactical missile showed at the military parade suggests that the system is based on the Russian Iskander (9K720) ballistic missile. Each TEL is based on a four-axle vehicle that carries two missiles similar in appearance to the 9M723 and 9M723-1 missiles used by the Russian-made Iskander-M.

The Iskander missile can carry conventional warheads including HE fragmentation, sub-munitions, penetration, fuel-air explosive and electromagnetic pulse, with a maximum payload 480 kg. The minimum firing range of the missile is 50 km and the maximum is 280 km, while 400 km for the Iskander-M missile. The missile is powered by a single-stage solid-propellant engine.

North Korean armed forces conduct live firing exercise with M1991 240mm MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket Systems into the East Sea in North Korea, May 4, 2019 (Picture source North Korean Central News Agency)