North Korea conducts long-range artillery and missile drills

Monday 14 September 2026 - 10:32

By: Azzat Manal

North Korea conducts long-range artillery and missile drills

North Korea has conducted a major military exercise involving long-range artillery units and missile forces, according to the country's official Korean Central News Agency, highlighting Pyongyang's continued emphasis on strengthening its strike capabilities.

The drills were held on September 12 and involved five artillery and missile units, with participating forces reportedly launching both cruise and ballistic missiles during the exercise.

North Korea also deployed attack drones and multiple rocket launchers equipped with thermobaric munitions. The combination of long-range artillery, missile systems and unmanned aircraft was presented as part of an integrated military operation designed to test the country's ability to coordinate different strike capabilities.

The exercise was reportedly supervised by Pak Jong Chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, alongside Yu Chang Son, head of the artillery bureau of the North Korean military's General Staff.

According to North Korean state media, all of the weapons systems involved successfully hit their designated targets. The report did not provide detailed information about the locations of the exercises, the precise missile models used or the distances covered by the projectiles.

The latest drills come amid persistent tensions on the Korean Peninsula, where North Korea has continued to develop and test a broad range of missile and military technologies. Pyongyang has repeatedly described its weapons programmes as necessary to strengthen national defence and deter what it considers hostile actions by the United States and its allies.

North Korea's ballistic missile programme has been a major source of concern for neighbouring South Korea and Japan, particularly because some of the country's systems are designed to reach targets far beyond the Korean Peninsula. Cruise missiles have also become an increasingly visible component of Pyongyang's military activities, adding another layer to its developing strike capabilities.

The involvement of attack drones and rocket artillery reflects a broader trend in modern warfare toward combining conventional firepower with unmanned systems. Such exercises allow militaries to test coordination, targeting and operational readiness under simulated combat conditions.

For South Korea and Japan, North Korean military exercises are closely monitored because artillery and missile systems positioned near the inter-Korean border could pose a direct threat to military and civilian infrastructure. Seoul and Washington regularly conduct their own military exercises, which North Korea has frequently condemned as preparations for an attack.

The latest North Korean exercise also comes as regional security dynamics remain complicated by the country's growing military cooperation with Russia. Western governments and South Korea have expressed concerns about closer defence ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, particularly over the reported exchange of military technology and support.

North Korea has not indicated whether the latest exercise was linked to any specific operational scenario. However, the scale and combination of weapons involved demonstrate Pyongyang's continued efforts to maintain combat readiness and showcase its expanding military capabilities.

The drills are likely to reinforce concerns among neighbouring countries over North Korea's missile and artillery programmes, while adding another element to the broader security tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula.