North Korea announced on Thursday that it had tested upgraded 240mm multiple rocket launcher shells toward the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, framing the exercise as part of a five-year plan to modernise its artillery and missile forces. Senior military official Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission, called for concentrating the "deadliest" strike forces along the border with South Korea, warning that Pyongyang intends to make its adversary aware that all long-range weapons have been replaced with the latest versions. The new guided rockets can strike targets up to 115 kilometres away, putting much of South Korea within reach — a development that takes on added significance since North Korea formally declared inter-Korean relations hostile in 2023, with Seoul saying it is maintaining "overwhelming" readiness in coordination with the United States.