The M1985 and M1991 are 240 mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) produced by North Korea. These, along with other unguided artillery rockets, represent a key means by which North Korea holds Seoul and South Korea at risk, supporting its deterrence posture.

M1985/1991 Development and Deployment

While their development timelines remain unclear, U.S. intelligence services designated the M1985 and M1991 systems by the year they were discovered. Both systems may share a common lineage with the 200 mm BMD-20 or the 240 mm BM-24 rocket artillery systems North Korea imported from the Soviet Union during the 1950s. Since then, North Korea has imported other artillery rockets which may have contributed to further development. These systems include of the Russian BM-21 ‘Grad’ and Chinese Type 63 MLRS.

Military analysts estimate that North Korea possesses roughly 200 M1985 and M1991 launchers in total.² Many of these systems are deployed along the South Korea-North Korea border and, according the U.S. Department of Defense, “pose a constant threat to northern parts of the Republic of Korea.”³ Besides the M1985 and M1991, North Korea possesses as many as 5,000 other 107, 122, and 200 mm rocket artillery pieces, as well as a long-range 300 mm MRLS known as the KN-09.⁴

Lacking any form of guidance, North Korea’s 240 mm MLRS systems would be primarily used to carry out saturation attacks against large targets, such as forward military positions, military bases, and urban areas.⁵A North Korean M1985/1991 battery would typically consist of five launchers, with three batteries assigned to each battalion. They are often seen stationed in semi-hardened artillery sites.⁶

In 2012, North Korea claimed to have doubled the range of its 240 mm rockets to over 120 km. A senior rocket expert at the Defense Acquisition and Program Administration contested this claim, however, arguing that it would represent an advance in rocket artillery beyond even what Russia or the United States has been able to develop.⁷

M1985/1991 Specifications

The M1985/1991 are truck-mounted 240 mm MLRS.⁸ Depending on the munition employed, the range of the M1985/1991 is approximately 40-60 km. Both systems can fire a single salvo in 45 seconds, and take approximately ten minutes to reload.⁹

The M1985 is mounted on a Japanese Isuzu 6×6 truck and has twelve 240mm launch tubes organized into two rows of six tubes.¹⁰ The M1991 is also mounted on a 6×6 truck and carries twenty-two 240 mm launch tubes organized into three rows; two rows of eight and one row of six. Both the M1985 and M1991 fire unguided, spin-stabilized 240 mm high-explosive, smoke, or incendiary rockets. They may also be capable of delivering chemical munitions.¹¹

Exports

North Korea has exported the M1985/1991 to Myanmar and Iran. Reports in 2008 and 2010 indicate that North Korea had completed two deliveries of larger caliber truck-mounted MLRS to Myanmar.¹²

North Korea also exported the M1985 to Iran in the late 1980s, where the system was slightly modified and reproduced by Shahid Bagheri Industires as the Fajr-3.¹³