North Korea practised striking Seoul with rocket artillery
On 9 December, North Korea conducted live-fire drills with 240 mm multiple rocket launchers capable of striking Seoul and surrounding areas. This was reported by The Public with reference to Yonhap
About ten shells were fired at 3 p.m. local time. The fire was directed towards the northern waters of the Yellow Sea. The military identified the installation as a 240 mm MLRS, with which the DPRK army is heavily saturating the border area opposite Seoul. The distance between the South Korean capital and the demarcation line is about 60 kilometres, making it possible to strike the entire metropolitan area.
The South Korean command notes that the firing is part of winter exercises, which the North Korean army traditionally conducts in December. At the same time, the military emphasises its readiness to respond in case of provocations.
‘Our military is closely monitoring all North Korean movements as part of a joint defence posture with the United States and maintains the capability to respond overwhelmingly,’ the JCS said.
Last month, Pyongyang conducted similar firing exercises ahead of a visit by the US and South Korean defence ministers to the demilitarised zone.
