North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has ordered the expansion and modernisation of missile production to meet growing military demand, state media reports.
SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the expansion and modernisation of the country’s missile production capacity for 2026.
State media reported on Friday that Kim issued the directive during a visit to munitions factories accompanied by top officials.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim ordered factories to meet “prospective requirements in the operation of the state missile and artillery forces”.
He stated they must “further expand the overall production capacity” to keep pace with demand from Pyongyang’s armed forces.
Kim also ordered the construction of new munitions plants.
“The missile and shell production sector is of paramount importance in bolstering up the war deterrent,” the North Korean leader said.
Pyongyang has significantly increased its missile testing in recent years.
Analysts say this aims to improve precision strike capabilities and challenge the United States and South Korea.
The testing also serves to trial weapons before potentially exporting them to Russia.
Kim’s factory visit was reported a day after state media said he toured a nuclear submarine factory.
There, he vowed to counter the “threat” of South Korea producing its own such vessels.
KCNA added that Kim learned about research into “new underwater secret weapons”.
He was also reported to have overseen a test launch of new-type high-altitude long-range anti-air missiles over the Sea of Japan.
North Korea’s ruling Korean Workers Party is expected to hold its first congress in half a decade in early 2026.
Policymakers will hash out economic and military development plans for the next five years at that congress.
