The leader of the North Korean regime, Kim Jong Unordered the expansion and modernization of the Rocket production for next year and ordered the construction of new factories to meet the armed forces’ growing demand, the state press reported on Friday.
The decision was announced after Kim visited munitions factories with senior officials in the country. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)the dictator instructed the works: “further expand overall production capacity“to maintain the pace required by the Korean People’s Army.” During the tour, Kim emphasized the strategic importance of the weapons sector within the national defense system.
“The missile and projectile production sector is of utmost importance in strengthening war deterrence” said the North Korean leader, according to the official report.
North Korea has increased its tests of missiles of various ranges in recent years. Analysts claim that these tests are aimed at perfecting precision strike capabilities, challenging the United States and South Korea and evaluating weapons before eventual export to Russia. Pyongyang did not officially confirm these goals but continued to disseminate information about progress in its strategic programs.
Kim’s visit to the munitions factories was reported a day after state media reported a tour by the head of a shipyard related to the construction of a factory Nuclear submarine. In this context, Kim promised to “Danger“, which, according to Pyongyang, represents South Korea’s plan to acquire ships of this type.
The KCNA reported that Kim inspected the construction of what North Korea described as a nuclear submarine 8,700 tonswhat the dictator described as a crucial step in the modernization and nuclear armament of the North Korean navy. The regime stated that it plans to equip the ship with nuclear weapons, calling it “strategic guided missile submarine” either “strategic nuclear submarine“.
During the visit, Kim condemned South Korea’s efforts to acquire nuclear submarines, supported by the US president. Donald Trumpand described her as “offensive act” which seriously violates the security and maritime sovereignty of the North.
He also stated that these plans reinforce the need to advance the nuclearization of the North Korean Navy, assuring that the completion of the submarine represents a change in the “Time” in strengthening nuclear deterrence against what he described as enemy threats.
The state agency did not give the exact date of the inspection, but released photos showing Kim, along with senior officials and his daughter, inspecting a large burgundy-colored boat at an assembly warehouse. It was the first time since March that state media published comprehensive images of the submarine, after previously showing only lower parts of the structure.
Experts noted that the circulation of images of a largely finished helmet suggests relevant progress. Moon Keun-sik, a submarine specialist at Hanyang University in Seoul and a former South Korean naval officer, said: “The rendering of the entire boat seems to indicate that most of the equipment has already been installed and is almost ready to be launchedMoon said it is possible that the North Korean submarine will be tested at sea in a few months.
A nuclear submarine is among the strategic systems Kim announced at a political conference in 2021, along with solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, spy satellites and multiple-warhead missiles.
North Korea has conducted various tests related to these programs and recently unveiled a new naval destroyer, which Kim described as an important step in expanding the operational range of its nuclear forces.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula have increased in recent years alongside the further development of North Korea’s nuclear program and the strengthening of relations with Moscow. Pyongyang’s government repeatedly rejected calls from the United States and South Korea to restart denuclearization negotiations, which had been stalled since 2019 after the failure of a summit with Trump during his first term.
In this context the ruler Korean Workers’ Party It plans to hold its first congress in five years in early 2026, where leaders will discuss economic and military development plans for the next five years.
(With information from AFP and Associated Press)
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