Overview
- State media said 50 new 600mm multiple rocket launchers were presented to the gathering, with Kim touting AI-enabled guidance and precision he claimed is comparable to ballistic missiles for a 'strategic mission.'
- Analysts estimate the rockets could reach about 400 kilometers and are designed to strain South Korean defenses by blurring the line between artillery and short-range missiles.
- The Ninth Workers’ Party Congress began Thursday in Pyongyang, where Kim emphasized economic recovery and improving living standards, omitting direct references to the United States or South Korea.
- Photos showed launcher vehicles lined up near the April 25th House of Culture, and observers are watching for a military parade or further weapons disclosures during the congress.
- Kim Yo Jong welcomed Seoul’s expression of regret over alleged drone incursions and warned of tighter border vigilance, while South Korea’s spy agency watches for any formal move on Kim Ju Ae’s status.