The other day, the DPRK has tested a "super-large jet weapon" at the training ground of the Academy of National Defense. This was reported by the Central Telegraph Agency of Korea (CTAC). It is noted that the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was personally present at the tests of the multipurpose super-large-caliber rocket launcher.

“It has been confirmed that military-technical superiority and reliability of the gun system are firmly ensured,” the TsTAK said in a statement.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea confirmed that two small-range missiles were launched from a large-caliber multiple launch rocket system towards the Sea of ​​Japan. The South Korean military reported that the missiles covered a distance of 380 km. The maximum flight altitude was 97 km.

The Ronhap Agency reports that this is the fourth test of this system - earlier launches from the installation were carried out on August 24, September 10 and October 31. After new tests, representatives of South Korea, Japan and the United States held telephone conversations, during which they discussed the actions of Pyongyang.

Later, the Japanese side was criticized by the North Korean Foreign Ministry, which called the MLRS tests the launch of ballistic missiles. The Foreign Ministry emphasized that Pyongyang distributed photographs of these tests so that there would be no doubt about the type of weapons in the world.

According to Yevgeny Kim, a leading researcher at the Center for Korean Studies at the Institute of the Far East of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the DPRK thus demonstrates its determination to defend itself from external threats, while not violating the agreement with the United States: the republic did not conduct nuclear tests.

“These launches demonstrate that North Korea is not going to give up, completely surrender. This is a signal to the outside world that the DPRK will continue to strengthen the defense power of its country. Perhaps she will refuse from heavy missiles, but she will continue to produce missiles with a range of up to 500 km, ”the source said.

At the same time, according to the professor of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at the University of Gyeongnam Kim Dong-yop, the presence of the leader of the DPRK in the trials may indicate that the volley fire system is almost complete. At the same time, the expert called not to link all Pyongyang’s actions with an attempt to put pressure on Washington in the negotiation process.

“I would like people to stop explaining any action of North Korea by the desire to put pressure on the United States,” the expert told RIA Novosti, explaining that during the formation of a new strategic concept for the development of the DPRK, the country is interested in switching to the development of the economy while maintaining its defense potential. In this regard, Pyongyang selectively modernizes traditional weapons.

  • Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump
  • Reuters
  • © KCNA

Negotiation difficulties


The DPRK and the United States held talks several times, trying to make progress on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un met three times. In 2018, the first DPRK and US summit took place in Singapore. Then, following the results of the negotiations, a joint document was signed, according to which Pyongyang committed itself to denuclearization in exchange for security guarantees from Washington.

After this meeting, the DPRK ceased nuclear testing, but then the denuclearization process was suspended because Washington did not provide security guarantees for the DPRK and did not weaken the sanctions regime.

The second meeting between the leaders of the United States and North Korea took place in February 2019 in Hanoi. The summit was unsuccessful.

The leaders last met on June 30, 2019, when Trump arrived at the Panmunjom border checkpoint in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. There, he spoke with Kim Jong-un and symbolically crossed the line of demarcation, becoming the first US president to visit the DPRK. Then the leaders agreed to resume negotiations on denuclearization.

A new summit at the level of working groups was to be held in early October in Sweden. However, the meeting was disrupted: the North Korean side left the site, noting that the United States arrived at the talks without formulating any constructive proposals.

Pyongyang then said that it did not intend to continue the dialogue with Washington until the United States took "practical measures to completely and irreversibly abandon the hostile policy regarding the DPRK." According to North Korea, the Americans should do this before the end of 2019.

“We have clearly set the American side a way to resolve issues, so the further fate of the Korean-American dialogue depends on the position of the United States, and the deadline is until the end of this year,” the DPRK Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

  • Kim Jong-un on tests of a super-large MLRS
  • Reuters
  • © CCAC

Steps towards

In mid-November, North Korean Foreign Minister Ambassador Kim Myung-Gil announced that US Special Representative for the DPRK Stephen Bigan “conveyed through a third country the desire that both sides - the DPRK and the US - meet again in December and hold talks.” He stressed that the DPRK is ready for dialogue with the United States "anywhere and anytime, if it is possible to resolve the issue through negotiations."

After that, the United States began to take certain practical steps to normalize dialogue with the DPRK. So, in November, the head of the Pentagon, Mark Esper, said that the States and South Korea would postpone the joint military exercises Vigilant Ace, which were scheduled for the end of the month.

According to Esper, this step is a "gesture of goodwill" on the part of Washington aimed at "creating an atmosphere conducive to diplomatic efforts."

It is worth noting that Russia has repeatedly called on the United States and North Korea to continue the dialogue on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. On November 20, this position was confirmed by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov: “We actively urge both sides - North Korean and American - to resume dialogue as soon as possible.”

In turn, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergei Lavrov, on November 21, stated that recently the US-DPRK negotiations have “stalled”.

“The reason is very simple: the DPRK believes that they have already done a lot of specific things that deserve a counter reaction. The American side believes that they need everything at once, and therefore they will think about how to encourage North Korea, ”the minister said.

Strengthening Positions

According to Alexander Vorontsov, head of the Korea and Mongolia Department of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, North Korea insists that the United States switch to a new system for calculating mutual concessions.

“Until the end of the year, Kim Jong-un will keep the promises made in Singapore, but if he does not meet the reciprocal steps on the part of the American president, he will begin to conduct nuclear tests. DPRK believes that the United States has not yet taken the necessary steps in due volume. Until the end of the year, North Korea expects an updated approach from the United States, ”the expert said.

At the same time, the analyst believes that now the situation on the peninsula has become much calmer than before the two countries began negotiations. At the same time, Vorontsov emphasized that it was impossible to move towards denuclearization under American conditions.

“North Korea has tested an ultra-large-caliber multipurpose rocket launcher to confirm its commitment to its own security. They also want to put pressure on the United States to change their position. In recent months, Washington has shown its willingness to continue dialogue and to show greater flexibility. America is already updating its position, but not to the extent that the DPRK would suit, ”Vorontsov explained.

The expert noted that now there are opportunities for the development of the situation in two directions - both towards the next round of tension, and towards continuing the negotiation process between Pyongyang and Washington.

“Until the end of 2019, North Korea will not do anything. Perhaps it will continue to experience multiple launch rocket systems or short-range missiles, so you should not expect any sharp aggravation of the situation. In addition, Trump will be re-elected as president next year, so it is important for him to establish relations with North Korea. Most likely, some compromises will be found. I hope that they will meet again next year, and Russia and China will make certain proposals that will help resolve the situation, ”summed up Eugene Kim.