North Korea’s Kim Jong Un oversees transfer of missile launchers to border

North Korea has been expanding its short-range weaponry designed to overwhelm missile defences in neighbouring South Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has presided over a ceremony to mark the delivery of 250 new tactical ballistic missile launchers to military units at the border.

State media KCNA shared images of the Pyongyang ceremony, which took place after dark on Sunday, showing camouflage-coloured launcher trucks lined up on a floodlit square decked out with flags. Soldiers stood in formation for the event, which included a fireworks display.

Addressing the crowds, Kim described the launchers as an “up-to-date tactical attack weapon” that he had “personally designed”.

North Korea has been expanding its range of mobile short-range weapons designed to overwhelm missile defences in neighbouring South Korea, while also developing intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to reach the continental United States.

North Korea said it tested a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a “superlarge warhead” last month. Tactical weaponry is a term usually used to describe systems capable of delivering lower-yield nuclear weapons.