North Korea presented a new multiple launch rocket system during its latest military parade in Pyongyang, a platform that observers say closely resembles the U.S.-made M142 HIMARS.
The new system, seen moving through the capital’s streets in convoy formation, has not yet been named, and its performance characteristics remain undisclosed.
A column of several new multiple launch rocket systems passed through the streets of the capital, the names of which are currently unknown, as well as their characteristics. These launchers represent an entirely new category in North Korea’s artillery inventory, showcasing what appears to be an evolution toward mobile, precision-strike systems inspired by Western design principles.
Visually, the new launcher features a self-loading mechanism and an armored cabin—key characteristics associated with the HIMARS concept. This suggests a growing interest within North Korea’s defense sector in adopting modular and mobile artillery solutions suited for rapid deployment and reloading.
Like its American counterpart, the launcher, just like the American analogue, has a pack-type ammunition load and can reload independently in the field. This design enables sustained fire missions without requiring heavy transport or external reload vehicles, a capability that has made systems like HIMARS and South Korea’s K239 Chunmoo particularly effective in modern warfare.
However, the new North Korean system diverges from the U.S. model in one notable aspect. Unlike HIMARS, the new artillery system has two blocks of nine launch tubes, making it more similar in layout to the South Korean K239 or to larger systems such as the MLRS. This dual-block configuration potentially doubles the launcher’s fire volume per mission, though it remains unclear what type of rockets or guidance technology the system employs.
The parade presentation offered no formal details regarding range, payload, or operational purpose, leaving analysts to rely solely on its appearance and configuration. The system’s armored cab, modular launch containers, and self-loading design indicate that Pyongyang’s engineers continue to pursue a model of rapid, mobile precision fire—traits increasingly common in advanced rocket artillery worldwide.
