North Korea Copied American HIMARS Launcher (Photos)South Front

Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)

North Korea showcased a multiple rocket launch system with a design similar to the United States’ M142 HIMARS at a military parade on October 10, as it marked 80 years of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.

The official Korean Central News Agency shared two photos showing at least six of the new launcher marching through Pyongyang during the parade, without revealing its name or any of its characteristics.

Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)

Just like the HIMARS, the launcher features a self-loading mechanism and an armored cabin. However, unlike the American system, the North Korean launcher can apparently be loaded with two rocket pods. This is similar to the K239 Chunmoo launcher of South Korea.

A close up photo of the launcher that surfaced online, likely taken from footage of the parade aired by North Korea’s state TV, shows two types of ammunition: a pod with what appears to be 30 launch tubes, and another with nine larger launch tubes.

The smaller launch tubes are most certainly for 122 mm rockets, while the larger ones may be for 200 mm rockets. North Korea produces guided rockets of both calibers.

Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)

While the HIMARS-like launcher caught much of the interest, it was not the only modern weapon showcased by North Korea during the large parade, which was attended by leader Kim Jong Un, in addition Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Vietnamese General Secretary To Lam, Russian official Dmitry Medvedev, and Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith.

Among the other weapons showcased was the Hwasong-20 a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-11Ma hypersonic missile and several types of tactical ballistic missiles, heavy rocket launchers, drones, air defense systems and tanks.

Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)

North Korea has been working to modernize its large military for quite some time now. In the last few years, the country made giant leaps in missile and drone technology.

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