North Korea’s "Super- Large" Multiple Rocket Launcher Firing Stuns Seoul

A rocket projectile fired from a "super-large" multiple rocket launcher firing system by North Korea has stunned Seoul with its speed and unchallenged flight.

The two projectiles flew some 380 km reaching an altitude of 97 km and fell in the sea off the South Hamgyong province of North Korea, the South Korea military said.

The projectiles were fired from Yeonpo in the country's eastern South Hamgyong Province into the waters off the east coast at around 4:59 p.m., the South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a release.

The two rocket projectiles were fired within a 30-second interval, the JCS release said. "South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are analyzing additional features," the JCS said adding that. "Our military is monitoring the situation in case of additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture."

If confirmed, Thursday's launches would be the fourth test so far of the North's super-large rocket launcher system, which is presumed to be a 600-millimeter diameter one. The North previously tested the weapon on Aug. 24, Sept. 10, and Oct. 31, Yonhap news commented on the launch.

Following the stalled peace talks between the United States and Pyongyang, the latter had threatened to respond with missile and rocket firings to US- Seoul military exercises and actions by the US military such as flight of spy planes over the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea wants easing of sanctions as a pre-condition to peace talks which the US has refused and wants Pyongyang to first call a halt to its nuclear and missile program.