North Korea's Kim Jong Un directs surge in missile production ahead of US-South Korea drills
AP, this action comes shortly before the commencement of the annual joint military exercises between South Korea and the US, exercises that North Korea perceives as practice for an invasion. Kim's efforts to increase weapons production coincide with U.S.
officials' suspicions that Russia's defence minister engaged in discussions with North Korea regarding the potential sale of additional weaponry to support Russia's conflict with Ukraine. According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim inspected facilities responsible for manufacturing tactical missiles, mobile launch systems, armoured vehicles, and artillery ammunition over the course of Friday and Saturday.
Also Read:Top Russian missile maker's data breached by hackers of North Korea, says report During a stop at the missile factory, Kim set a goal to “drastically boost" production capacity so the facility can mass produce missiles to meet the needs of frontline military units, KCNA said. “The qualitative level of war preparations depends on the development of the munitions industry and the factory bears a very important responsibility in speeding up the war preparations of the (North) Korean People’s Army," Kim said, according to the report.
Also Read: US reinforces presence in South Korea with deployment of another submarine amid tensions with North Korea Visiting other factories, Kim called for building more modern missile launch trucks and said there is an urgent need to boost production of large-caliber multiple rocket launcher shells “at an exponential rate," the report said. Kim also drove a new utility combat armored vehicle, KCNA said.
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