Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered an expansion of the country’s missile and shell production capacity to meet the military’s growing need for the weapons during inspections of major munitions industry enterprises, state-run media reported on December 26.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim, accompanied by senior officials, visited key munitions enterprises.
Officials briefed Kim on the achievements of the missile and shell production sector in 2025, including output in the fourth quarter, according to the news agency, which did not give details on the locations of the factories or reveal when the visit took palace.
“It is necessary to reinforce the technical foundations of the relevant production enterprises in a balanced way to further expand the overall production capacity,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
The North Korean leader also stressed the need for a development-oriented production plan for 2026 to meet future operational requirements of the country’s missile and artillery forces.
Kim highlighted the importance of modernizing the munitions industry through the creation of new enterprises and upgrades to existing factories. He noted that missile and shell production plays a central role in strengthening war deterrence.
Photos released by KCNA shows Kim touring what appears to be a factory with over a hundred Hwasong-11-series single-stage, solid-fueled, short-range ballistic missiles in various stages of production.
Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)
Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)
Most of the missiles seen in the photos appeared to be of the Hwasong-11A, a version with a design similar to that of Russia’s Iskander-M. This version, also known as KN-23, has a maximum range of 900 kilometers. It can be equipped with a 500 kg warhead, although it is reported that this would reduce range to 690 kilometers.
Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)
Interestingly, the intelligence services of both the United States and Ukraine claim that the Russian military has been using Hwasong-11A and even Hwasong-11B missiles in its special military operation.
The Hwasong-11B, also known as KN-24, is a bit smaller in size and has an external resemblance to the U.S. ATACMS. The missile is said to have a range of up to 410 kilometers.
Russia and North Korea signed a strategic partnership pact in 2024, and later in that year Pyongyang sent thousands of its troops to support the Russian military in the face of a large-scale Ukrainian attack in the Kursk region along with military equipment and ammunition. Yet, neither side has yet confirmed any deal related to the Hwasong-11 or any other type of ballistic missiles.
Kim’s decision to expand the production of missiles and shells is more related, however, to growing tensions with South Korea, which is modernizing its military with direct support from the United States.
In October, U.S. President Donald Trump even allowed Seoul to build its own nuclear submarine. North Korea is already way ahead with its own nuclear submarine project. The first such submarine, which is nearly completed, was inspected by Kim earlier in the week.
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