North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has been photographed driving a nuclear-capable multiple rocket launcher vehicle during a ceremony preceding the nation's most significant political gathering, the ninth Workers' Party Congress in Pyongyang. The striking images, released by state media, show Mr Kim at the wheel of the formidable 600mm rocket system, which he claims surpasses all comparable global weaponry.
Military Display Amid Political Gathering
The ruling party's congress serves as a crucial platform for North Korea to broadcast propaganda messages internationally and establish forthcoming political, economic, and military priorities. In a characteristic move, the authoritarian regime disseminated visuals of Kim Jong Un inspecting military hardware and infrastructure, aiming to bolster the country's image on the world stage.
During the ceremony, approximately fifty carriers of the advanced 600mm-rocket system were arranged in meticulous rows of seven across a square. Clad in his signature black leather jacket, Kim Jong Un waved enthusiastically to a crowd of thousands brandishing North Korean flags as he descended from the mobile missile launcher near the main stage.
Technological Claims and Strategic Posturing
Kim Jong Un asserted that the 600mm rockets are equivalent in capability to short-range ballistic missiles, boasting a size double that of most multiple rocket launchers. He emphasised that no other nation possesses such a sophisticated weapon system, attributing its superiority to the integration of artificial intelligence within its guidance mechanisms.
"It has completely changed the role and conception of artillery accepted by modern warfare," Kim declared, according to reports from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). This demonstration of military prowess is part of a broader campaign to highlight North Korea's growing defence capabilities ahead of the pivotal political event.
Economic Promises and Political Rhetoric
In his opening address at the congress, Kim Jong Un pledged to enhance living standards and accelerate economic development across North Korea. He articulated the urgent historic tasks facing the party, stating, "Today, our party is faced with heavy and urgent historic tasks of boosting economic construction and the people's standard of living, and transforming all realms of state and social life as early as possible."
He further urged for relentless effort, remarking, "This requires us to wage a more active and persistent struggle without allowing even a moment's standstill or stagnation." These statements underscore a dual focus on military expansion and domestic improvement, reflecting the regime's strategic priorities.
Preparations and Broader Context
In the lead-up to the congress, Kim Jong Un visited various military and economic sites, including a cruise missile launch facility and an extensive greenhouse farm, to showcase policy achievements. The party's political bureau convened a preparatory meeting the preceding Saturday, as reported by KCNA.
During this gathering, Kim emphasised the army's pivotal role, stating, "Our army has proved before the times and history that it is its mettle and original features to quicken more enormous and vigorous strides for loyalty and feats the greater the trust in and expectation for it is." He projected that the forthcoming five years, guided by the Ninth Congress, would witness an enhanced and unparalleled contribution from the military.
This year, described by Kim as "a year of tremendous transformation," is expected to demand strenuous efforts as the army's operational scope widens. The juxtaposition of military demonstrations with promises of economic upliftment illustrates the regime's multifaceted approach to consolidating power and projecting strength both domestically and internationally.
