Kim Jong Un Inspects Artillery and Destroyer

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected new long-range artillery systems and a destroyer this week, state media reported Friday, announcing plans to deploy the artillery along the border with South Korea this year and commission the warship to the navy by mid-June.

The Korean Central News Agency said Kim visited a munitions factory on Wednesday to review production of 155mm self-propelled gun-howitzers destined for an artillery unit near the southern border. The systems have a striking range exceeding 60 kilometers, placing Seoul, South Korea's capital with 10 million residents about 40 to 50 kilometers from the border, within reach. "Such a rapid extension of striking range and remarkable improvement of striking capability will provide a great change and advantage in the land operations of our army," Kim said, according to KCNA. He added that various operational and tactical missile systems and powerful multiple rocket launcher systems would also be deployed along the border.

On Thursday, Kim boarded the destroyer Choe Hyon off North Korea's west coast in the Yellow Sea to assess its maneuverability. KCNA reported he expressed satisfaction with the tests and ordered the...