The North Korean leader visited a facility of the Missile Administration and called for industrial expansion to supply forward units of the DPRK Armed Forces.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered a 2.5-fold increase in the production capacity of ballistic and cruise missiles intended for forward units of the country’s Armed Forces. The order was given during a visit to an industrial facility linked to the Missile Administration, according to information released by North Korea’s state news agency KCNA.
According to the official report, the expansion is part of a five-year plan to gradually raise production indicators until reaching the target set for the fifth year. Kim said demand for missiles is expected to increase in line with changes in the operational structure and combat organization of North Korean forces. International reports also indicate that North Korea has been linking this process to the modernization of its artillery and missile forces under a five-year plan.
The real scale of North Korean production remains difficult to estimate, as the country maintains a high level of secrecy over its military industry. Even so, the order draws attention at a time when Pyongyang is expanding the development of tactical systems, cruise missiles, and launch platforms for different operational environments.
Among the systems mentioned are cruise missiles from the Hwasal family, including the Hwasal-2, as well as the Pulhwasal-3-31, a variant designed to be launched from naval platforms, both surface vessels and submerged platforms. North Korea has also recently tested a combination of tactical ballistic missiles, artillery rockets, and precision cruise missiles, according to KCNA and international media reports.
During the visit, which took place on January 3, 2026, Kim Jong-un also inspected the manufacturing process of modern anti-tank weapons. Despite praising the current pace of production, the North Korean leader pointed out shortcomings in the modernization of assembly lines and ordered a review of plans for the construction and upgrading of ammunition industry enterprises in 2026.
Another highlighted point was the need to expand production of Bulsae-4 missiles by 2.5 times. According to Kim, the goal is to meet the needs of units planned by the DPRK’s Ministry of National Defense and General Staff. Specialized publications point out that the system has been treated as part of North Korea’s effort to accelerate the serial production of guided weapons.
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The decision reinforces the priority given by Pyongyang to the missile sector amid the expansion of its conventional and strategic arsenal. For analysts, North Korea’s industrial advance seeks not only to increase stockpiles, but also to adapt its forces to new combat patterns, with greater reliance on guided weapons, mobile platforms, and systems capable of operating in different scenarios.
Source and images: KCNA. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
