North Korea Formally Announces Deployment of New 155mm Artillery Systems Targeting Seoul Region

KCNA and state media on May 8, 2026 formally announced North Korea's decision to deploy its new 155mm self-propelled howitzers to southern-border artillery units, with Kim Jong-un's personal order to complete the deployment within 2026. The announcement coincided with Kim's earlier factory inspection and review of the destroyer Choe Hyon. The 60km-plus range artillery guns directly threaten Seoul's 9.7 million residents and could overwhelm current missile defense systems. South Korea's presidential office and Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned the announcement and called an emergency security consultation. The US Indo-Pacific Command said it was monitoring the situation and reaffirmed its commitment to defending South Korea under the US-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty.