The KN-09 is suspected to be derived from similar 300 mm caliber MRLs such as the Russian BM-30 Smerch, Chinese WS-1B, or even Syrian M-302.

[7] South Korea estimates the 300 mm rockets have a range of 180–200 km (110–120 mi)[3] with a 190 kg (420 lb) payload,[8] much longer than the Korean People's Army Ground Force's previous longest-range MRL, the 240 mm M1985/M1991 with range of 60–65 km (37–40 mi).

The 6×6 launcher truck features armored louvers to protect the windshield from rocket blasts, and the eight launch tubes are contained in two pods of four rockets, decreasing reload time as pods can be preloaded with missiles and swapped out faster than reloading individual tubes.

[13] Based on the highly classified document, the North appears to have completed the development and deployment of 300 mm multiple rocket launchers equipped with imagery-guidance and GPS systems that can hit Daejeon, where the joint military headquarters of the army, navy and air force are located.

[14] The potentially accurate guidance of the rockets would likely result in this system being used to target objects of military importance, such as airfields in South Korea.