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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for further expansion of the country’s missile and artillery shell production capacity during inspections of major munitions industry facilities, state media reported.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim visited key munitions enterprises alongside senior officials, where he was briefed on missile and shell production achievements in 2025, including fourth-quarter output.
KCNA did not disclose the locations of the factories or the dates of the inspections.
Kim emphasized the need to modernize production facilities and reinforce their technical foundations to meet the operational requirements of the Korean People’s Army.
He called for a balanced strengthening of production enterprises to expand overall capacity and urged the preparation of a development-oriented production plan for 2026.
He said missile and shell production plays a central role in strengthening the country’s war deterrence and stressed the importance of establishing new enterprises while upgrading existing factories.
KCNA also reported that Kim inspected an under-construction 8,700-ton nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine, describing the project as part of efforts to strengthen North Korea’s nuclear deterrence.
State media released images showing Kim inspecting what appeared to be a largely completed submarine hull at a shipyard, accompanied by senior officials and his daughter.
The agency said the vessel is a nuclear-powered submarine equipped with guided missiles, a project first unveiled by Pyongyang in March.
Kim criticized South Korea’s efforts to acquire nuclear-powered submarines with U.S. support, calling them an “offensive act” that threatens regional stability and North Korea’s security and maritime sovereignty.
He said the completion of the submarine would represent a “breakthrough” in strengthening nuclear deterrence.
A nuclear-powered submarine was among the advanced weapons listed by Kim during a political conference in 2021, alongside solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, reconnaissance satellites and multi-warhead missiles.
KCNA said Kim also recently supervised tests of newly launched air defense missiles.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said several missiles were detected after being launched from North Korea’s eastern coast.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have intensified in recent years as Pyongyang accelerated its nuclear and missile programs and deepened ties with Russia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
North Korea has rejected calls from Washington and Seoul to resume stalled negotiations aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile activities.
KCNA reported that Kim described South Korea’s submarine plans, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, as further justification for North Korea’s military modernization and nuclear armament efforts.
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