North Korea conducts 600 mm artillery drill

North Korea's 600 mm KN-25 MRL system is pictured at a live-fire event during January 2026. (KCNA via KNS/AFP via Getty Images)

North Korea has conducted a ‘firepower strike drill' involving its 600 mm multiple rocket launcher (MRL) system, signalling the weapon's deployment.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on 15 March that the drill was conducted one day earlier by an unnamed long-range artillery subunit of the Korean People's Army (KPA) stationed in the western part of the country. It said that 12 600 MRLs participated in the drill.

KCNA reported, “The launched rockets battered the island target in the East Sea [Sea of Japan] of Korea about 364.4 km away with the accuracy of 100%.” It added that the drill was conducted to “[check North Korea's] defensive posture and war deterrence”.

Citing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who was present at the test fire event, KCNA reported, “The drill would expose … the enemies within the 420 km striking range to uneasiness … and give them a deep understanding of the destructive power of [a] tactical nuclear weapon.”

Janes analysis of images of the drills published by KCNA suggests that the MRLs deployed in the drills were the ‘upgraded' large-calibre system North Korea's Missile Administration test-fired in January.

Citing Kim, who was also present at that event, KCNA reported at the time that the upgraded system features a “self-steered, precisely guided flight system, which can neglect any outside intervention”.

Reference to the self-steered system likely indicates that the weapon is equipped with an autonomous inertial navigation system (INS)-based precision guidance system with in‑flight control.