Seoul: State media reported on Sunday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has directed factories making missile engines, artillery, and other weapons to increase capacity as a crucial part of strengthening the nation's defence capabilities.
According to state news agency KCNA, Kim's inspections from Thursday to Saturday covered the production of shells for transporter-erector-launchers, super large-caliber multiple rocket launchers, and engines for strategic cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
He made a series of unusual visits over several days to various arms factories at a time when Pyongyang is pushing to develop a number of conventional and strategic weapons and holds prominent exhibitions of a variety of weapons.
Ballistic missiles are typically launched from the launchers Kim examined.
North Korea has tested advanced cruise missiles, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, rocket launchers for larger calibre shells, and its newest ballistic missiles in the past month.
According to KCNA, Kim cited improved automation and precision processing in the creation of large-caliber multiple-rocket launcher shells.
According to the agency, he demanded that "different kinds of cutting-edge strategic weapon engines...be produced in large quantities and thus make a great contribution to bringing about a revolution in developing new strategic weapons of our style."
Pictures of Kim firing various assault rifles with fiery blasts coming from the muzzle as he took aim at an out-of-focus target were captured.
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most likely focused on modernization and technical innovation of weapons that will help with the export of arms to Russia, according to Cheong Seong-chang, a specialist on North Korea's political strategy at the Sejong Institute near Seoul.
On July 27, Pyongyang held a significant military parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, showcasing its most recent attack and spy drones, nuclear-capable missiles, and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu joined Kim in the reviewing stand.
Kim gave Shoigu a tour of a display of ballistic missiles and what appeared to be a brand-new drone at a significant defence exhibition.
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The United States accuses North Korea of supplying "significant" quantities of artillery shells to Russia for use in its conflict in Ukraine, as well as a shipment of infantry rockets and missiles to Russia's mercenary Wagner Group.
Both North Korea and Russia have refuted those assertions.
