Kim Jong-un Inspects Munitions Factory, Orders Expansion of Shell Production
On June 13, Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, visited a significant munitions factory to oversee operations and direct the enhancement of shell production capabilities. Accompanying him was his daughter, Ju-ae. According to the Korean Central News Agency (조선중앙통신), Kim's inspection aimed to gain a detailed understanding of the current state of shell production and the plans for expansion and modernization in the first half of 2025. The specific location of the factory was not disclosed.
During his visit, Kim expressed satisfaction with the factory's operations and emphasized the need to set forward-looking goals that align with the anticipated demands for national defense. He instructed that production capabilities should be further expanded and reinforced to meet the requirements of the national defense strategy, while also adapting to the needs of modern warfare. This includes rationalizing production processes and continuously improving automation levels.
Kim's inspection was attended by several high-ranking officials from the Workers' Party, including Jo Yong-won, Kim Duk-hoon, Ri Il-hyung, and Oh Su-yong, as well as Defense Minister No Kwang-chol, Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, and Kim Yong-hwan, head of the National Defense Science Institute.
Photos released by the Korean Central News Agency show Ju-ae accompanying her father in a white suit, similar to her attire at the launching ceremony of a new 5,000-ton destroyer held on June 12. This suggests that the factory visit occurred shortly after the ceremony.
Amid ongoing military support to Russia, Kim has consistently emphasized the importance of increasing production at munitions factories. Last month, he visited a military enterprise under the Second Economic Committee, urging for greater shell production to contribute to the enhancement of North Korea's military capabilities.
