North Korean artillery pointed south stirs concern at border observatory

Visitors at a South Korean observatory in Gimpo said North Korean artillery positioned with barrels pointing south was worrying. South Korean officials described the weapons as an older system, while a military expert characterized the deployment as a display of firepower.

• A Reuters witness reported three armoured vehicles with gun barrels pointed south near the frontier by Monday; visitors saw the area from the Aegibong observatory in Gimpo on October 27.· 1 source
• Analysts identified the weapons as M-1981 122mm self-propelled howitzers, with a reported maximum range of about 24 kilometres.· 1 source
• South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the weapons were an older system, and analyst Yang Uk said their visible positioning suggested they were deployed to be noticed.· 1 source